Gua Sha has been around for many centuries and has been perfected by Chinese traditionalists who use it as a way of practicing medicine and healing. Acupuncturists may use gua sha to promote healing, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation in your body. People who deal with TMJ know the inflammation and soreness that are often associated with it in the face. Is there a way to use gua sha for TMJ? Here are some factors to consider with the treatments.
Acupuncturists may use a type of healing called gua sha. This term is loosely translated into “rubbing, pushing, and scraping” but the tool that the acupuncturist uses during these massages is a smooth edge tool that makes the massage gua sha. The person using the gua sha will scrape, rub, and push on the skin to promote healing and reduce inflammation, and muscle soreness. Gua Sha has a few different hand tools that are used on different body parts depending on the intensity of the treatment. Those that suffer from TMJ understand the aches and tired muscles in the jaw and joints. Would a treatment of gua sha for TMJ work?
Gua Sha For TMJ
You may consult with your local acupuncturist or masseuse about using gua sha for TMJ. They may be able to help educate you on why it might work for each individual case. In theory, gua sha may relieve the tension, muscle aches, and inflammation of your jaw muscles but that would only be temporary as the root cause of TMJ isn’t being addressed.
TMJ is caused by teeth grinding and clenching. It is mainly triggered by stress and anxiety. When you sleep, your mind decompresses from your day. Any stressful events like school, work, relationships, family, or any other unpleasant experiences will be subconsciously unpacked from your mind while you sleep. During this process, your body may react negatively to these thoughts and feelings and release that energy by grinding or clenching your teeth resulting in TMJ.
So while gua sha for TMJ may help reduce the symptoms from TMJ, it won’t stop it from happening again. That means you’ll have to continue treatments each time you grind or clench your teeth. Those visits to your acupuncturist will add up. To truly prevent teeth grinding and clenching symptoms from TMJ, you’ll want to wear a custom night guard while you sleep.
By wearing a night guard, you prevent your teeth from clenching or grinding together which relieves your symptoms of TMJ. This is a more permanent solution than using gua sha for TMJ as it stops the issue from the source. Your dentist may craft you one but you’ll need to schedule a visit and pay an expensive bill. SportingSmiles has been crafting night guards since 2009 and offers the same premium guards that the dentist crafts but at half the cost and no reason to leave your home. By ordering the patented impression kit, you’ll receive adjustable mouth trays, putty, an instructional pamphlet, an info card, and free 3-way shipping.
Gua Sha may temporarily relieve tension and inflammation from your jaw joints and muscles but it won’t stop the source. By wearing a night guard you are protecting your teeth and muscles from serious damage. If not properly protected teeth grinding can lead to expensive repairs from the dentist. Sleep peacefully at night and with maximum protection for TMJ with a custom night guard.
