What Is Intraoral Massage? (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need)

What Is Intraoral Massage? (And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need)

If you’ve never heard of intraoral massage before, you’re not alone! Also known as buccal massage or TMJ massage, it’s a lesser-known but highly specialized technique that focuses on the muscles inside the mouth and jaw. For those dealing with jaw pain, tension headaches, or a history of mouth or neck trauma, it can be a total game changer.

So let’s talk about what it is, how it works, and who it’s best for.

What Is Intraoral Massage?

Intraoral massage is a focused technique that targets the muscles inside your mouth—specifically the ones responsible for chewing, speaking, and clenching. During the session, I wear medical gloves and work inside your mouth to access and treat the inner jaw and cheek muscles (like the masseter and pterygoids).

I also work on the front of the neck—muscles involved in chewing, swallowing, and clenching—as well as your scalp and the back of your neck. This ensures the treatment is thorough and helps prevent tension from shifting elsewhere.

This type of massage is incredibly precise and effective at releasing deep, hard-to-reach tension—especially in people who clench or grind their teeth (which is about 80% of my clients!) or who have been diagnosed with TMJ dysfunction.

Benefits of Intraoral Massage

Here are just some of the things intraoral massage can help with:

• TMJ dysfunction (aka TMJ or TMD) – pain, clicking, or locking of the jaw

• Jaw tension or clenching – especially during sleep or high-stress times

• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

• Tension headaches or migraines

• Facial pain or stiffness

• Neck and shoulder tightness that stems from the jaw

• Post-dental procedure recovery – when jaw muscles feel sore or overstretched

Who Is It For?

If you’ve ever caught yourself clenching your jaw while driving, working, or sleeping... this might be for you.

If your dentist has mentioned wear on your teeth from grinding or clenching, or if you’ve been dealing with jaw pain or clicking, this might be for you.

If you regularly get tension headaches, experience upper body stress, or have a history of trauma to the face, neck, or mouth—intraoral massage could be exactly what your body needs to feel better.

What to Expect

Intraoral work is always done with your full consent and lots of communication. I’ll walk you through the process beforehand and check in during the treatment to make sure you’re comfortable with the pressure, technique, and positioning.

Here’s how a typical session goes:

• We’ll start with a facial cleanse and some warm-up work on your outer jaw and face

• I’ll put on gloves and begin gentle, targeted work inside your mouth

• Next, we’ll work under the jawbone and on the front of the neck

• We’ll finish with an exfoliating scrub to boost circulation, followed by work on your jaw, scalp, the back of your neck, and some upper back massage

The full treatment takes 60 minutes, but if you’d like a more complete session, you can choose 90 minutes and we’ll spend more time on the upper back and surrounding muscles for an even more effective treatment.

Many clients feel noticeable relief after just one session—but multiple sessions are often recommended for longer-lasting results. The ideal number of treatments varies from person to person, depending on your symptoms and goals. I’ve found that combining intraoral massage with neck and shoulder work can lead to even better results.

Ready to Try It?

If you’re dealing with jaw tension, TMJ issues, or stubborn headaches, intraoral massage might be the missing piece you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Let’s talk about how it could help you finally relieve that deep, chronic tension and start feeling better!

Book online or feel free to send me a text or email with any questions—I’m always happy to chat and help you figure out if it’s the right fit for you.