
What is TMJ? Learn about TMJ and How Massage Can Help You! So You Can Massage For Jaw Pain
TMJ dysfunction: pain in and around your jaw with movement of the joint.
Your Muscles of Mastication, ie. chewing
Muscles that close your jaw: masseter, temporalis and medial pterygoid. Muscles that open your jaw: lateral pterygoid.
Masseter


Temporalis
Medial Pterygoid


Lateral Pterygoid
Masseter Trp


Temporalis TrP
Medial Pterygoid TrP


Lateral Pterygoid Trp
Can these TMJ muscles be massaged? Yes. I show you a gentle TMJ massage in the video below. The Pterigoid muscles are harder to get to, as they mostly require going inside the mouth through intra-oral massage. All of these muscles should be massaged when treating TMJ issues.


Trigger Points Refer Pain: Masseter TMJ Muscle
- Upper and lower back teeth
- Adjacent gums
- Front of face
- Under eye
- Pain may feel like sinusitis
- Jaw
- Deep ear pain
- Ringing in the ear
- Roaring sound in the ear
- Itching in the ear

The masseter jaw muscle is the strongest muscle in the body!

TMJ Massage Relief Tutorials:
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Masseter Muscle Self Massage: A Step-by-Step Guide for Relief and Relaxation
TL;DR: Jaw pain blindsided me, but with some creative self-massage (and a few comical moments), I managed the swelling and tension. Key takeaway: Don’t wait for a flare-up—consistent care is your secret weapon.
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Masseter Self Massage: A Simple Guide to Relieving Jaw Tension and TMJ Discomfort
If you’ve ever experienced jaw tightness, pain, or discomfort around your temples or cheeks, you’re not alone. The masseter muscle, a powerhouse of the jaw, often gets overworked and tense, leading…
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Lateral Pterigoid Massage: A Deep Dive into Jaw Relief
I’m Emily Boudwin, neuromuscular massage therapist and restorative exercise specialist. Today, we’re diving into a crucial area of jaw health: the Lateral Pterygoid Massage. This massage focuses on the upper section…
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Massage Medial Pterygoid: A Guide to Relieving TMJ Pain
Hello, I’m Emily Boudwin, a neuromuscular massage therapist and restorative exercise specialist. Today, we’re diving into the world of TMJ and focusing on a crucial muscle: the medial pterygoid. This muscle…
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Personal Experiences with TMJ dysfunction
I love helping those who suffer from occasional TMJ issues and those who have regular TMJ problems. Why? Because I also suffer with TMJD. I would love for you to watch…
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Relax Your Jaw
Sometimes your jaw just hurts or is regularly tight and sore… Is this you or someone you know? Then follow along with this self massage video, as I guide you to…