TMJ is a reason that everyday people use Facial Acupuncture to assist with pain management. Facial Acupuncture doesn't have to be all about vanity. But Facial Acupuncture can also be called Cosmetic Acupuncture or Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, so it may give that impression.
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for Temporal Mandibular Joint.
"Huh?" you might say.
Well, its the anatomical name for your jaw!
And many people experience symptoms that affect their Jaw. You may be familiar with:
- Teeth grinding at night or Bruxism
- Jaw clenching
- Jaw chomping at night due to stress
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Nerve pain affecting the jaw from other causes eg post viral symptoms from Shingles or Ross River Fever
TMJ Pain is pain specific to the joint of the jaw itself.
How do I know if I grind my teeth at night?
Your Dentist is the best person to inspect and assess your teeth for the effects of grinding. Otherwise your partner you sleep next to may be the next best person to ask. Teeth grinding may cause noise at night that could disturb their sleep.
Another clue for teeth grinding may be waking up with an aching muscles in the jaw.
What causes teeth grinding?
Often stress is the reason for teeth grinding.
What can you do about Teeth Grinding?
Your doctor or dentist are the best people to consult regarding initial strategies to minimise damage to your teeth from the effects of grinding. This may include wearing a mouthguard which will prevent further damage, but if Unconscious stress is the cause, Acupuncture may help with general body relaxation and calming your nerves. The unconscious stress, ruminating thoughts or a busy mind at night can cause your neck and jaw muscles to tense up while you're asleep.
Your doctor or dentist are the best people to consult regarding initial strategies to minimise damage to your teeth from the effects of grinding. This may include wearing a mouthguard which will prevent further damage, but if Unconscious stress is the cause, Acupuncture may help with general body relaxation and calming your nerves. The unconscious stress, ruminating thoughts or a busy mind at night can cause your neck and jaw muscles to tense up while you're asleep.
How may Acupuncture help TMJ or Teeth grinding?
Acupuncture may provide long term strategies to help manage your stress, calm your mind for a good nights rest and help your sleep. It can also target the jaw more directly with points around the TMJ with what we call Motor points in the Masseter and Temporalis muscles. Like a trigger point in the shoulder or back, the Jaw Muscles can twitch if released and holding a lot of tension. But generally just placing a needle in the muscles of the jaw will assist the fascia to relax locally.
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture or Cosmetic Acupuncture
These are the common names for Acupuncture on your face. Generally it's understood that you may seek these styles of Acupuncture to improve the complexion from acne or colouring of the complexion because Acupuncture may assist with improving blood flow to the skin of the face.
But there are clients that seek Facial Acupuncture for pain management and neuralgia in the face as well. Pain associated with the TMJ, Teeth grinding and clenching. One of Acupuncture's strengths is the ability to relax and calm people. Local needling of the face may also relax the muscles of the jaw.
What's involved in a Facial Acupuncture treatment?
A full case history is taken into account to understand your symptoms more fully. Then Body acupuncture is applied first to target the physical symptoms of stress; insomnia, anxious feelings, muscular tension in the neck and shoulders that may relate to TMJ pain, headaches. Then I use much more facial specific needles to apply to the face in the motor points in the jaw muscles and where the referred TMJ pain may radiate. You only receive treatment on the front of your body so you have the whole session to relax once the needles are applied. Facial massage may be used to assist muscle relaxation in the jaw.
To make an appointment for Facial Acupuncture, book online here. You will need a 75 min appointment for an Initial consultation and 60min appointment for a follow up appointment. Jaw tension if acute, may be released within 3-5 repeated sessions.
