Our Approach
1. Targeted Jaw and Muscle Relief
Jaw tension has different roots for different people, your practitioner may combine several modalities aimed at easing tension and supporting jaw function:
Acupuncture: Combines traditional and modern approaches, using traditional principles aimed at supporting the body’s natural energy balance, while also calming the nervous system and targeting the pathways linked to stress, jaw function, and chewing comfort.
Dry Needling: Targets tight jaw muscles, such as the masseter and temporalis, that may refer pain up into the temples or behind the eyes.
Electroacupuncture: Applies gentle electrical currents to selected points, designed to help manage TMJ and jaw pain by calming an overactive nervous system, easing tight jaw muscles (including the masseter, the main chewing muscle), and reducing local jaw tension.
Remedial Massage: A firmer, targeted form of massage working on the chewing muscles, jaw, and surrounding neck tension, aimed at easing physical tightness around the jaw joint.
2. A Full TMJ Assessment
We assess the relationship between your jaw, neck and stress patterns to help identify what’s contributing to your symptoms:
Jaw movement and mobility: Assessing your jaw’s range of motion, any deviation when opening your mouth, and clicking or locking.
Neck and upper spine screening: Checking the alignment and mobility of the upper neck, which shares a close anatomical relationship with the jaw.
Clenching and grinding discussion: Understanding whether stress-related clenching or nocturnal teeth grinding may be a contributing factor.
3. Long-Term Prevention and Habit Support
Our aim is to ease symptoms while supporting habits that help maintain a relaxed jaw:
Jaw relaxation guidance: Simple daily cues to help you rest your tongue, unclench your bite, and drop your jaw.
Targeted strengthening: Exercises aimed at building endurance in the deep neck muscles, to help support posture and reduce strain on the jaw.
Ongoing acupuncture care: Scheduled sessions aimed at supporting your general stress levels, which may help reduce nocturnal grinding.
Often connected to headaches? See our [Migraines and Headaches] page for more detail.
Not sure what your first visit involves? See our full [What to Expect] guide.
Common questions
Can acupuncture help with TMJ or jaw pain? Acupuncture and dry needling are commonly used to ease jaw tension and support pain management for TMJ-related symptoms, often alongside remedial massage. Your practitioner will assess your specific pattern at your first visit.
I grind my teeth at night, can acupuncture help with that? Nocturnal grinding is often linked to stress. While we can’t promise it will stop grinding entirely, many patients find that easing overall stress levels through regular treatment helps reduce its frequency. We’d also recommend mentioning this to your dentist, who may suggest a night guard alongside your treatment here.
How many sessions are typically needed? This depends on how long the pattern has been established and what’s contributing to it. Your practitioner will give you a realistic outlook after your first assessment.
