Will This Jaw Pain Ever Go Away?

If your jaw clicks, pops, aches, locks, or just feels wrong, you’re not making it up. You’re not being dramatic. And you’re definitely not the only one.

TMJ dysfunction is frustrating, painful, and often dismissed. It affects how you chew, talk, sleep, and express emotion—and it can trigger headaches, ear pain, dizziness, and chronic tension throughout your neck and shoulders. For some people, it flares during stressful seasons. For others, it’s been there so long they can’t remember what their jaw felt like before.

If this sounds familiar, we see you. And we can help.

What is TMJ massage? TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint—the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ massage targets the muscles around this joint to help relieve tension, pain, and restricted movement.

At The Deep Tissue Spa, we offer both external and intraoral TMJ massage (inside the mouth, using gloved hands). While it might sound a little strange, intraoral massage is one of the most effective ways to access and release the deep muscles responsible for clenching, grinding, and misalignment—especially the medial and lateral pterygoids, which you can’t reach any other way.

What to expect during an intraoral TMJ massage:

• We wear gloves and only work inside the mouth for a few minutes at a time

• You’re always in control—we explain everything and check in constantly

• We may alternate intraoral work with external massage on your neck, scalp, jaw, and shoulders to help your body fully release

Why this works:

• It relieves chronic tension that builds from clenching or grinding (bruxism)

• It improves jaw mobility and alignment

• It reduces pain signals and softens your body’s stress response

• It calms the nervous system so your jaw doesn’t feel like it has to brace all the time

TMJ massage won’t replace dental care or solve structural issues, but it can change your day-to-day experience of living in your body. Many clients feel relief in the first session—and with consistent care, find themselves sleeping better, waking up without tension, and even chewing more comfortably.

If your jaw is tired of holding it all, you don’t have to keep powering through. We’ve got you.