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Headaches and Jaw pain on the rise with COVID-19 Pandemic

January 31, 2022

Headaches and Jaw pain on the rise with COVID-19 Pandemic


Isolation, depression, anxiety and stress surrounding contracting COVID-19, finances, and burnout have been high during the COVID-19 pandemic. People avoided going to anywhere there could be a risk of contracting the virus including the dentist. When we are stressed we often subconsciously clench or grind our teeth. Dentists were seeing an increase in cracked teeth and broken fillings as a result of stress and anxiety. Massage Therapy for the face and jaw are not areas people think to request treatment for but manual therapy can help manage symptoms of dysfunction of the jaw (Temporomadibular joint dysfunction also known as TMJ dysfunction).


Clenching and grinding teeth can cause increased tone in the muscles of mastication (Temporalis, masseter, and the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles). Symptoms that can arise due to dysfunction of the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and muscles that Massage Therapy can help alleviate include:


  • Pain and tenderness of the jaw and face
  • Pain on one or both sides of the jaw
  • Aching pain around the ear, face, neck and/or shoulders
  • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
  • Locking of the jaw joint
  • Grinding or clenching the teeth
  • Clicking or cracking when opening or closing the jaw
  • Limited jaw opening
  • Pain with smiling, laughing, talking, or yawning
  • Tooth aches along the upper or lower molars one side or both sides
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Headaches
  • Dry mouth


Other causes of TMJ dysfunction symptoms are bite misalignment and other dental issue including cracked teeth or fillings, cavities, or infections. These should be ruled out as they are very serious and can cause more serious health issues.


Your probably thinking "How can massage help with dry mouth, toothaches, and ringing ears?"

Tight muscles can often refer pain, this phenomenon is not uncommon and can happen anywhere in the body. Muscles because of their close proximity to other structures such as the ear and saliva gland can be pulled on or compressed and become swollen.  Treatment to surrounding muscles can relieve pressure and strain on structures and alleviate symptoms.


Massage Therapy for jaw pain often focuses on a combination of intra-oral massage (inside the mouth), and external massage to the face, jaw, neck, and shoulders. Relief of jaw pain can be seen in as little as one treatment but often requires several treatment along with guided self-massage to perform at home for management of TMJ dysfunction. Acupuncture is another modality which can be used to treat symptoms externally is internal massage is too painful. Needles are inserted in and around the area of pain


Your therapist will inquire about:

  • Pain level at rest and with chewing
  • Frequency of pain or symptoms
  • Type of symptoms
  • History of head or neck injury
  • History of dental surgeries and treatment
  • Limitations of the neck, shoulder, and jaw


The above information will aid your therapist in identifying/developing treatment goals and monitoring for improvements of symptoms.


Your therapist will wear gloves when providing intra-oral treatment to prevent bacteria transmission into the mouth from the therapists hands and from your mouth to the therapist hands. If you have an allergy to latex please be sure to speak with your therapist before treatment so that the appropriate personal protective equipment is chosen.


If your experiencing head or jaw pain consider booking a Massage Therapy appointment.


Learn more about the function of the muscles of mastication and where they can refer pain below.


References:

  • Building an Automated Orofacial Pain, Headache and Temporomandibular Disorder Diagnosis System, Nocera, Vistoso (2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8075456/
  • Clinical, psychological, and sensory characteristics associated with headache attributed to temporomandibular disorder in people with chronic myogenous temporomandibular disorder and primary headaches, Tchivileva, Ohrbach (2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8141151/
  • Effects of therapeutic and aerobic exercise programs in temporomandibular disorder-associated headaches, Moleririnho-Alves, Almeida (2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8428817/
  • Role of anxiety and depression in association with migraine and myofascial pain temporomandibular disorder, Nazeri, Ghahrechahi (2018) https://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2018;volume=29;issue=5;spage=583;epage=587;aulast=Nazeri
  • Association of facial massage, dry needling, and laser therapy in Temporomandibular Disorder: case report, Pessoa, Costa (2018) https://www.scielo.br/j/codas/a/CSBTZBC6RGFdBpv8rLz4Ymp/?lang=en
  • The management of temporomandibular disorders: a headache in general practice, Conville, Moriarty (2019) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6774690/
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in the Elderly and Aging Population, Yadav, Yang (2019) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6699643/
  • The Application of Manual Techniques in Masticatory Muscles Relaxation as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Urbanski, Trybulec (2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8700844/

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By Clarissa Vandenbussche • June 11, 2020
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COVID-19 Temporary Closure

By websitebuilder • March 20, 2020
March 2020 has been a stressful time for everyone. The increasing number of individuals contracting COVID-19 has brought our society to a halt. Although I hold myself to high disinfection practices to avoid the spread of infectious diseases by washing my hands before and after every treatment and disinfecting the treatment tools, equipment, and any other surfaces that may have been touched these measures are not enough to keep myself and my patients safe. As we are aware screening patients is not effective as individual can be carriers of the virus for may days before showing symptoms. The virus is spread through droplets which means every time an individual breaths or talks there are droplets expelled into the surrounding air. These droplets and the virus are stying in the air much longer than previously thought. Masks only protect others who have not been exposed to the virus. Wearing gowns, gloves, masks and goggles are worn are the only measures to fully protect from transmission. These measures are utilized in hospitals but are not ideal in external clinical practices. On Monday March 16, 2020 the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario highly recommended that all Massage Therapist close their practice door to any non-essential care. Along with this information and the governments recommendations to self-isolate and practice social distancing I am deciding to be proactive and cancel all current and future treatment for this time being. Once I feel that it is safe to resume providing care I will notify my patients. If you require any guidance about how to manage your symptoms during this time I will be available by phone, email, and can even perform Skype calls to assist you during this time. We all need to do our part to flatten the curve, the spread of this virus, to keep those who are vulnerable safe. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Clarissa Vandenbussche RMT @ The Toronto Integrative Medicine Centre

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By Clarissa Vandenbussche • March 19, 2014
Athletic taping - What is it? What are the benefits? Ever seen people walking around or at a sporting event with colorful tape on their bodies and wondered what it actually does? You have probably thought that it’s mostly used for athletes or for injuries. There are many benefits to “Athletic taping” and there are so many different brands of athletic taping on the market. I had the privilege of attending a Dynamic Taping course which was put on by an old classmate, Josh Martin RMT, who works with various athletes and sporting teams. Why did I choose to take this course over other athletic taping courses you ask? Personally I have played around with some of the other brands to see what they had to offer. After being disappointed by the quality of the adhesive (available to the public and directly to therapists) and performance of some of the brands i had tried, I had begun to talk to others about the tapes they have tried and their experiences. Most people I talked to had similar experience to that I had. So i sought out an old classmate that I knew taught the Dynamic Tape course and asked him what is so different about the Dynamic Tape? Well for starters the tape has 4 way stretch capability, breathable, water resistant, incredibly soft and is highly elastic. I liked the way it sounded but of course was skeptical considering my pervious experiences with tapes. Over a couple of weeks and months I kept on hearing how wonderful this tape was and how well it worked for so many therapists who have taken the course. I figured what do I have to lose, if I take the course and don’t like the product I just wont use it. So I helped Josh set up a course here in Toronto. The day of the course came, I had never laid my hands on this tape before but I was excited to see what it could do. I was fortunate to be taped by the instructor for one of the demonstrations and as soon as the tape went on and I was allowed to place my arm back into what was a “normal” resting position for me, I could immediately see the potential. The tape although it is not rigid held my shoulder in an new position, as slight as it may have been. Because the tape is highly elastic it allows for full movement but provide superior support. Most athletic tapes on the market are only allow for a 2 way stretch where as the Dynamic Tape allows for a 4 way stretch. This allows for optimal movement while providing offloading the of muscle. The tape cause directly effect the tissue mechanics, movement patterns, pain physiology and circulation dependent on how the tape is applied and which effect is intended. The tape itself is not meant as a long term solution but rather an aid alongside rehabilitative exercises. So as time and treatment progresses the frequency of application and dependency would decrease. There are two methods for applying the tape either a direct method, which helps mimic the action of the muscle and takes some of the load off of it, or an indirect technique, which is used to aid in the correction of movement patterns. Talk with your practitioner to discuss whether you could benefit from dynamic tape.

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By Clarissa Vandenbussche • March 16, 2014
Does knuckle cracking cause Osteoarthiritis? Your sitting down on the bench waiting for a bus or hanging out with some friends when one person begins to crack their knuckles one by one and then their finger joints. You cringe and with each pop and crack you clench you teeth a little more. You think to yourself “Has no one ever told them that cracking their knuckles causes damage to their joints?”. Well your right but the biggest talks is that knuckle cracking causes osteoarthritis of the joints. Knuckle cracking is not an uncommon habit. Before we talk about what is actually happening to our joints and if we are causing long term damage that can lead to arthritis, let's talk about the anatomy of the joints. So what is ultimately causing this cracking or popping noise? When someone is cracking their knuckles they are either over flexing, extending, pulling or pushing side ways. When one does this is increases the space in the joint and decreases the pressure within the joint. This causes the gases that are dissolved, as bubbles, in the joint fluid to burst and break into tiny bubbles and this is what makes the cracking sound. The tiny gas bubbles take approximately at least 15 minutes to regroup at which point the joint can be cracked once again. So what does this mean for the joint health itself? When the joint is over flexed, extended, pulled forcefully or pushed side ways it causes the joint to reaches its maximum distraction (up to 3 times its resting joint space distance). Once the joint is “cracked” it is left with a greater range of motion. Usually when a joint has more range of motion that normal it is placed at a higher risk for injury. The joint is supported by ligaments much like any other joint including the ankle, which is commonly “rolled over” causing an over stretch of the ligaments supporting the joint. Because ligaments have no blood supply and/or vessels to transport new nutrients and 'building blocks' like protein to rebuild and repair damage. So when a ligament is stretched to its limits repeatedly damage can occur and can take a very long time to heal. Does repeatedly cracking your knuckles cause Osteoarthritis? Although there has been much speculation that knuckle cracking are associated the studies prove otherwise. Repeated knuckle cracking does not directly cause damage to the joint surfaces it can cause strenuous stress to the ligaments which stabilize the joint. So think twice before cracking your knuckles because the joint whatever the outcome is taking a tremendous beating in either situation long-term. References: Knuckle Cracking and Hand Osteoarthritis, Kevin deWeber, MD, The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, March-April 2011 vol. 24 no. 2 pg. 169-174 Effects of habitual knuckle cracking on the hand function, Jorge Castellanos, David Axelrod, Annals of the Rheumatic Disease 1990; 49 pg. 308-309
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