Intraoral Massage for TMJ, headaches, and jaw tension relief
The jaw is the most frequently used joint in the body, and one of the most chronically overworked. Clenching, grinding, forward head posture, dental procedures, stress, trauma, all of it accumulates in the muscles of the jaw, face, and neck over time. Most people don’t realize how much tension they’re carrying in their jaw until someone actually works with it.
Intraoral massage gives access to muscles that standard massage cannot reach. Working with gloved hands inside the mouth, I can address structures like the masseter, the pterygoids, and the buccinator, muscles that are central to jaw function. This is slow, careful, consent-based work. Nothing happens without your knowledge and agreement, and your comfort is the pace we move at.
Jaw massage can help with:
- Jaw pain, clenching, or teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Headaches and migraines
- TMJ dysfunction and jaw alignment issues
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Recovery from whiplash or dental procedures
- Nervous system regulation and grounding
- Emotional holding in the jaw and throat (when present)
What to expect in your massage
- We begin with the scalp, the temporalis, the sides and back of the neck, the shoulders, the SCM and scalenes. The external work comes first, giving the tissue time to warm and soften before we move deeper.
- When and if we move inside the mouth, I use clean gloves and will always check in with you before doing so. The internal work addresses the muscles of the inner jaw and cheek, and sometimes includes gentle traction on the tongue. It sounds intense but is typically experienced as a profound release.
- Throughout the session I will offer education on how to work with these muscles at home between sessions. Jaw tension is something you can actively participate in changing, and I want you to leave with tools, not just relief.
- This work addresses the head, face, and neck as one connected system. Jaw tension ripples into the neck, the cranial base, the shoulders. The session follows those connections wherever they lead.
Massage Rates
60 minutes $120* | 90 minutes – $160* | 120 minutes – $200*
(*Price reflects Cash Payment Time of Service Discount. Payment due at time of service. MVA & Insurance Clients please see Insurance Section)
Lineage & Training
My intraoral massage training was completed through Crafted Touch in Seattle, Washington, under the instruction of Lauren Christman and Richard Polishuk, licensed massage therapists with decades of experience in intraoral, cranial, and structural bodywork. The Essentials of Intraoral Work is a certification covering anatomy and kinesiology of the face, anterior neck, and temporomandibular joint, along with technique, hygiene, consent protocols, and client management specific to working in this sensitive area.
Jaw massage is slow, attuned, and deeply healing. Whether you’re looking for physical relief, emotional release, or simply more ease in your jaw and nervous system — intraoral massage offers a path toward restoration.