8SoothingAcupressurePointstoRelieve

JawPainandTMJProblems
ByBipashaMukherjee2Comments

Although,mostofusignorejawpainandtensioninthejawasjustaninsignificantproblem,butit
often takes a tollon the facialmuscles and even smilingbecomes a painfulaction. Many people
experiencepaininthecheeks,facialmusclesandjaws,andoneofthemostcommoncausesofthis
painistemporomandibulardisorders (TMD) or stress inthe temporomandibularjoint(TMJ). We
have a TMJ joint on each sideof the face and thisjointconnects the jaw to the skulland allows
mobilitywhichisneededinordertotalk,chewanddoallotherkindsoffacialmovements.Stressin
thejawjointisoneofthecommonreasonsforjawpainandstiffness.Thisstressmaybecausedif
apersonhasahabitofgrindingthejawsorclenchinghisteeth. Muscletensioncancauseapullon
thejawjointsandcausefacialpain.Acupressurealongwithfacialmuscleexercisesisagreatwayto
reducepainanddiscomfortinthejawsandTMJsymptomslikeinflammation,spasms,swelling,and
pain.

Causes of Jaw Pain and TMD (temporomandibular

disorders)
Although the exact causes of TMJ are not known, but the symptoms usually arise from
complicationsinthemusclesofthejaworpartsofthetemporomandibularjointitself.
Injury to the jaw or the temporomandibularjointor the musclesof te head or neck due to a
heavybloworwhiplash.
Grindingorclenchingofteethwhichexertspressureonthetemporomandibularjoint.
Movementofthesoftcushionpresentbetweentheballandsocketofthejoint.
Arthritisinthejoint.
Tighteningoffacialandjawmusclesduetostress.

SymptomsofTMD(temporomandibulardisorders)
TheassociatedsymptomsofTMDareasfollows:
Musclepainaroundthejaw
Clickingor poppingnoiseswhen you move your mouth or
chew
Difficultyinopeningthemouthduetotightnessofthejaw
Paininfrontpartoftheearthatspreadstothecheeks,earandtemple
Recurringheadacheormigraine
Buzzingorblockedsensationintheear
Disturbedsleep,painintheneckandback

8 Functional Acupressure Points to RelieveJaw Pain, Toothache,

andSoreFacialMuscles
Herearesomeeffectiveacupressurepointswhichcanhelpinalleviatingstressinthejaws,jawpain,
dentalstressandswelling.

St6
St36orStomach36isthemostimportantfacialacupressurepointthathelpsinrelaxingjawtension
andjawpainalongwithTMJ problems,toothaches,lockjawanddentalneuralgia.Thispointisalso

calledtheJawBone,anditislocatedbetweentheupperandthelowerjaw,onthemassetermuscle
thatbulgeswhenthemolarsareclenched.Youcanstimulatethispointintwoways. Placetheheel
of your hands between the upper and the lowerjaws just infront of the ear lobeand applyfirm
pressurefor1minutebreathingdeeply.Secondly,placeyourfingertipsonthejawmuscleandpress
firmlyfor 1 minute whilebreathingdeeply. This point is also useful for treatingswellingto the
cheek,facialpainorparalysisandtwitchingoffacialmuscles.

TW17
TW17 or TripleWarmer 17 is a functionalpoint to relievejaw tension which is located in the
indentationundertheearlobe.ThispointisalsoknownastheWindScreen,anditcanbestimulated
by applyinglightpressure to the point under both earlobes usingyour middlefingers. Hold the
pressure for a minute while taking long and deep breaths. This acupressure point can often be
tender, so itisbest to use gentlepressure. This pointhelpsto tone facialmusclesand isusefulto
treatearpain,facialspasms,mumps,jawpain,lockjaw,toothache,facialparalysisanditchyears.

SI19
SI19 or Small Intestine 19 is a significant point in acupuncture facelift and is also used in
acupressurefortreatingawiderangeofhealthissues.ThispointiscalledtheListeningPalace, and
itis locatedrightinfront of the ear hole,ina depressionthat widenswhen the mouth isopened.
Thispointshouldbestimulatedbypressingthemonbothsidesofthefacewiththemiddlefingertips
for1minutewhilebreathingdeeply.ThispointisespeciallyeffectiveforTMJ problems,toothache,
earproblems,deafness,tinnitus,hearinglossandepilepsy.

TW21
TW21 or TripleWarmer 21 isa vitalacupressure pointfor jaw and teeth problems,and itisalso
calledtheEarGate. ThispointislocatedonehalfinchabovepointSI19onbothsidesoftheface.
Both SI19 and TW21 can be stimulatedat the same timeby pressingthe pointssuingthe middle
fingertipon SI19 and the indexand ringfingertipon TW21. Concentrate on the pointsand apply
firmpressurefor1minuteonthepointwhilebreathingdeeply.Thispointhelpstorelieveheadache,
toothache,TMJproblems,jointpain,earacheandpressureinsidetheear.

GB2
GB2 or GallBladder2 isyet another ear pointAuditoryConvergencepoint,and itislocatedone
half inch below the SI19 point. This point is especiallyeffective for treating ear problems like

tinnitus and deafness along with TMJ disorders, toothache, and facial paralysis. It is best to
stimulatethispointinunionwiththeothertwoearpointsSI19andTW21byapplyingfirmpressure
onthepointsusingthefingertips.

GB20
B20orGallBladder20isafunctionalacupressurepointlocatedatintheneck,beneaththebaseof
the skull,inthe hollows,two or three inchesapart. This pointisalsocalledthe WindPool, and it
shouldbestimulatedbyplacingthethumbsonthepointsandpressingupandunderneathyourskull
fortwominutesasyoutakelonganddeepbreaths.Thispointisbeneficialforrelievingjawpainand
alsoalocalpointforneckpain,stiffneckandheadache.Inaddition,itisalsousedtotreatcommon
cold,nasalcongestion,eyeproblems,dizziness,andvertigo.

GB1
GB1orGallBladder1isavitalfacialacupressurepointwhichislocatedintheorbitoftheeye, at
the sideof the face. This pointisalsonamed the PupilBone Hole, and itisthe most important
acupressurepointforalltypesofeyeproblems.Itcanbestimulatedbypressingthepointsonboth
sidesofthefaceusingthemiddleandringfingertips.Applysteadypressurefor1minuteandthen
graduallylightenit. Stimulationof this point can be combined with jaw muscle exercisesto cure
facialparalysisandBellspalsy.Itisalsousedtotreatheadacheandinflammation.

SI18
SI18orSmallIntestine18isanotherfacialacupressurepointalsocalledtheCheekBoneHole.Itis
locatedat the loweredgeof the cheek bone, straightdown from the outer corner of the eye and
acrossfromtheloweredgeofthenose.Thisacupressurepointcanbestimulatedbyapplyinggentle
but firm pressure on the points for 1 minute usingthe tip of the thumb and the middlefinger.
Thisacupressure pointisusefulfor correctingtwitchingof eyelids, facialparalysis,toothache and
swellingofthecheek.

TipstoPreparetheFaceforAcupressureTherapy
Followingthese few simpletips before gettingon with the acupressure session for jaw pain and
tensionreliefcanhelpinincreasingtheeffectivenessofthesession.
Takedeepandslowbreathsandkeepyoureyesclosedwhileyoutrytorelax.
Grasptheearsinbothhandsandrotatethemgentlybutfirmly.
Contract all the muscles of the face by scrunching up your mouth, your eyes, and your
forehead.
Squeezeallthemusclesasfirmlyasyoucan.
Then open up allthe musclesas widelyas you can by openingyour mouth, wideningyour
eyesandstretchingyourlips.

Placeyourhandsonthesidesofyourfaceandcoveryourfaceasmuchasyoucanandrelax
forafewminutes.
Pulltheskinofourfaceupwardanddownward,forwardandbackwardandholdeachstretch
for30seconds.
Rubyourhandstogetherandplacethemonyourfacefor2to3minutes.
So, nowgetrelieffromtheirritatingproblemofjawpain,jawstiffnessandfacialmusclepainwith
thehelpoftheseeffectiveacupressurepointsandsaygoodbyetotemporomandibulardisorders.