TMJ Massage in London, N13
A considered, whole-body approach to settling jaw pain and tension.
Jaw pain (TMD) is often a sign that your system is under strain — not just a problem with the jaw itself. TMJ massage goes beyond simple jaw massage, looking at how jaw tension relates to the neck, shoulders, breathing, and the wider body, especially when rest, exercises, or standard hands-on treatment haven’t helped.
Where would you like to start?
Is TMJ massage right for you?
Check whether your symptoms match those most commonly helped by TMJ massage.
Why a whole-person approach to jaw relief?
TMJ massage isn’t simply a jaw massage — here’s what a whole-person approach looks like.
What happens during a TMJ massage session?
How we decide together what’s appropriate for you, and what to expect during your session.
What led me to TMJ massage?
The training and experience that led me to specialise in TMJ massage therapy.
What people say about their experience.
From being heard to better sleep and reduced tension – this is what people are sharing.
How to book and find the pricing
Ready to book or want to chat first? Appointment options, pricing, and free discovery calls.
Is TMJ massage right for you?
Jaw-related symptoms are often grouped under TMJ or TMD — terms used to describe pain, tension, or restricted movement involving the jaw and surrounding tissues.
Some symptoms are obvious. Others are less so.
You might recognise one or more of the following:
Jaw & jaw joint sensations
- Clenching, pain, tightness, or fatigue
- Clicking, popping, or grinding
- A sense of heaviness or overuse
Movement & everyday function
- Difficulty opening, closing, or aligning the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- Shallow breathing or a sense of breath restriction
Face, head, neck, shoulders & body
- Facial tension or twitching
- Headaches or migraines
- Neck and shoulder tension or restriction
- Body tension: back, hips, or feet
Sensory experiences
- Tinnitus or earache
- Dizziness or light sensitivity
- Changes in taste or saliva
In a whole-person context, TMD is often not a fault in the joint itself, but a sign of how the body is holding load or adapting to stress over time — which is why symptoms are often multiple rather than isolated.
TMJ massage may be worth considering if these symptoms feel familiar, especially if rest, exercises, or standard hands-on treatments haven’t helped.
Why a whole-body approach to jaw relief?
TMJ massage is more than simply jaw massage, and doesn’t only focus on the jaw or on intra-oral work alone.
Jaw tension is closely linked to the nervous system and the connective tissues (fascia) that link the jaw with the neck, shoulders, spine, and hips — a relationship explored in more detail in The link between jaw pain and hip tension.
When the body has been under ongoing physical or emotional load, it may shift into patterns often described as fight, flight, or freeze.
Over time, this can lead to heightened sensitivity, protective muscle tension, and difficulty settling — sometimes referred to as central sensitisation. The jaw is a common place where this tension shows up, even when the original drivers lie elsewhere.
A whole-body approach means:
Rather than trying to “fix” the jaw in isolation, this approach helps the system feel safer and less guarded — creating the conditions where jaw tension can begin to ease.
If you’d like a deeper understanding of jaw pain, TMJ/TMD, and self-care approaches, I’ve created a separate educational resource at TMJPainCare.com, focused on helping people make sense of symptoms and explore supportive strategies at their own pace.
→ Explore TMJ pain education and self-care at TMJPainCare.com
What happens during a TMJ massage session?
Sessions are unhurried and collaborative.
Before any hands-on work, we take time to talk through what you’re experiencing, what you’ve explored previously and what outcome you’re ideally looking for. This helps decide what’s appropriate for you.
Treatment may include a combination of:
Most people attend more than one session, usually spaced about a week apart at first. How many sessions are needed varies — and we review this together as things evolve. However many sessions we have, my aim is to share my knowledge and ensure you have the skills and tools to self-manage at home.
What led me to TMJ massage?
My work with TMJ pain didn’t begin with a technique or a protocol. It grew out of working with people whose jaw pain was part of a wider pattern — involving the neck, shoulders, breathing, and how the body responds to strain over time.
I’m a Jing therapist trained to BTEC Level 6 in Advanced Clinical & Sports Massage, supporting a clinically reasoned, outcome-based approach guided by how your body responds rather than a fixed treatment routine.
My interest in working with jaw pain led to additional specialist training in TMJ dysfunction, intra-oral techniques, myofascial release, and persistent pain, informed by modern neuroscience and nervous system regulation. The focus isn’t just on where symptoms are felt, but on how tension is organised through the jaw, neck, shoulders, spine, hips, and breathing.
A key part of this work comes from training with Helen Baker, specialising in TMJ massage therapies. I pursued this training to deepen my understanding of jaw pain — and what became clear is that meaningful change often comes from addressing the relationship between the jaw and the rest of the body, not treating the jaw in isolation.
I explore these ideas in conversation with Helen on the Free Your Jaw podcast, where we discuss how jaw pain can relate to tension held elsewhere in the body.
→ Listen to the Free Your Jaw podcast episode
What people say about their experience
My aim is that treatment feels like a positive experience for you, and that over time it helps reduce your symptoms. People often describe noticing things like:
Everyone’s experience is different, and changes don’t always happen all at once. For most people, progress feels gradual — with a growing sense of confidence in how their body responds.
Below are some Google review excerpts from people I’ve worked with, which give a sense of what to expect both during sessions and over time.
How to book and find the pricing
You can view current treatment options and pricing below. From there, you can book an appointment directly.
If you’re unsure about treatment, you are very welcome to talk first.
For those who aren’t able to attend in person, I also offer online consultations for jaw pain and TMJ/TMD, focused on understanding your symptoms, exploring contributing factors, and helping clarify the most helpful way to approach things.
Online consultations for jaw pain
Online consultations for TMJ/TMD focus on understanding your symptoms, exploring contributing factors, and helping clarify the most helpful way to approach things. This work is guided by clinical experience and discussion, rather than hands-on treatment.
Frequently asked questions
These are questions I’m often asked by people experiencing jaw pain or TMJ-related symptoms who are considering a calmer, whole-body approach. If something isn’t covered here, you’re always welcome to ask.
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they don’t always mean the same thing.
Jaw massage and buccal massage usually describe hands-on work with the muscles around the jaw and inside the mouth, particularly the cheeks and chewing muscles.
TMJ massage tends to take a broader approach. While it may include intra-oral or jaw-focused techniques when appropriate, it also considers how jaw tension relates to the neck, shoulders, breathing, posture, and the nervous system.
For many people, jaw symptoms are influenced by tension held elsewhere in the body, which is why working with the whole system — not just the jaw — is often more helpful.
TMJ massage should not feel forceful or overwhelming. I work gently and at a pace your body can tolerate, checking in as we go. Some areas may feel sensitive, but the aim is always to reduce guarding and help the jaw settle — not to push through pain.
Clicking or popping can change as muscle tension and movement patterns improve, but it isn’t always the main goal of treatment. For many people, the priority is reducing pain, tension, and reactivity. Changes in jaw sounds may follow, but they aren’t guaranteed or required for progress.
No. Many people come without a formal diagnosis and still benefit from a careful, exploratory approach. We’ll focus on how your jaw and body are currently responding, rather than trying to fit your symptoms into a specific label.
There isn’t a fixed number, but many people notice meaningful improvement within the first few sessions.
As a general guide, some people find that around 4–6 sessions is enough to make significant progress, particularly when jaw pain, tension, or clenching has been present for some time. Often, changes in comfort, ease, or jaw movement are noticeable within the first 2–3 sessions, which helps guide next steps.
Treatment is reviewed as we go, based on how your jaw and body respond, rather than following an open-ended or indefinite plan.
Although treatment may include working directly with the jaw (including intra-oral work where appropriate), I often also work with the neck, shoulders, upper body, and hips — areas that can strongly influence jaw tension and movement.
The focus is on the wider patterns your body is holding, not just the jaw itself.
If this doesn't quite fit
If your jaw symptoms overlap with other areas, change over time, or don’t fit neatly into one category, this page explains the main pain issues I work with and may help you decide where to begin.
