TMJ Pain & Jaw Tension Relief in Whistler

If your jaw clicks, aches, or locks—or if you're clenching your way through the day—you're not alone. Jaw tension (aka TMJ pain) is more common than you think, and it’s rarely just about stress.

At Mend Health Co in Whistler, we look beyond the jaw itself to treat the full-body patterns that drive tension—so you can talk, chew, move, and rest without that nagging ache.

Is This You?

  • Jaw tightness that creeps in by afternoon

  • Clicking or popping when chewing or yawning

  • Headaches that wrap around your temples

  • Neck and shoulder tension that never fully lets go

  • Sore jaw in the mornings—or after stress or workouts

  • You've tried massage or a night guard… but it keeps coming back

    If any of that sounds familiar, let’s take a closer look.

What’s Actually Going On With TMJ Pain

Your jaw doesn’t work alone—it’s deeply connected to your head, neck, and nervous system.

When stress levels rise, posture changes, or movement patterns break down, muscles around the jaw start to compensate. That’s where clenching, pain, or even clicking can begin. And because the TMJ is a small, complex joint with big impact, it often creates ripple effects—headaches, ear pain, and neck tension are common companions.

Common Causes We See in Clinic

Movement + Muscle Factors

  • Suboccipital tension from forward head posture

  • Tight masseter, temporalis, or pterygoid muscles

  • Reduced cervical mobility (especially extension)

  • Weak deep neck flexors

  • Upper trap/levator dominance

  • Fascial restrictions in the jaw-neck-shoulder chain

Lifestyle / Load Factors

  • Long days at a desk or screen

  • High-stress environments or mental load

  • Mouth breathing, poor posture, or shallow breathing

  • Overtraining or clenching during lifts or workouts

  • Past dental work, whiplash, or head injuries

  • Sleep position, pillow setup, or night-time grinding

How We Assess TMJ Pain

Every case starts with a detailed history and functional exam. We don’t just ask about your jaw—we also explore stress levels, digestion, sleep quality, and even menstrual cycle patterns when relevant.

What we may do:

  • Mobility testing of the jaw, cervical spine, and thoracic region

  • Muscle testing (especially cervical stabilizers + shoulder chain)

  • Palpation of jaw, neck, and scalp muscles

  • Fascial glide testing in the head/neck/shoulder region

  • Functional breathing screen

  • Neurological screening if needed

You’ll leave knowing what’s driving your pain and what we’re doing about it.

How Our Integrative Approach Helps

This isn’t just needles in your jaw and hope for the best. We take a full-body approach to help your jaw and your nervous system find relief.

We use a blend of orthopedic and sports acupuncture, dry needling, and manual therapy to calm pain, restore function, and support long-term recovery. Depending on what we find, your session may include:

  • Motor Point Acupuncture – Activates inhibited muscles and restores proper function using a quick flash of e-stim to the motor point.

  • Dry Needling – Targets tight bands and trigger points to reset muscle length, restore elasticity and improve blood flow.

  • Electroacupuncture (E-Stim) – Adding gentle pulses of electricity to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and calm pain responses.

  • Distal (Channel-Based) Acupuncture – Supports systemic regulation or targets the issue from a distance when the area is too irritated for local work.

  • Manual Therapy, Gua Sha, or Cupping – Frees up fascia, restores glide, and reinforces joint movement when needed.

  • Intraoral Work – When indicated, gentle manual release inside the cheek can help reduce pterygoid tension and restore more natural jaw movement.

Want the full breakdown? See how we treat at Mend →

What a Session Looks Like

Initial Assessment + Treatment (~60 min)
If your new around here, this ones for you. History, assessment, targeted treatment, and plan design.

Follow-Up Acupuncture – Standard (~40 min)
Focused progress session. Re-test key movement(s), treat what changed, reinforce activation. Ideal for ongoing care.

Follow-Up Acupuncture – Extended (~60 min)
Same focused approach plus extra hands-on time (manual therapy, guasha, cupping, more dry needling) when you need deeper tissue work or multi-area care.

Recommended Visit Frequency

Everyone’s different—but here’s what works best for most:

  • Reset Phase: 2x/week for 2–3 weeks to calm pain + restore activation.

  • Correct Phase: 1x/week for 3–6 weeks to correct patterns + build durability.

  • Maintain Phase: Every 4-6 weeks to stay ahead of flare-ups + continue progress.

Progress moves faster when visits are closer together early on. We’ll tailor this to your goals, schedule, and sport.

5 At Home Tips for TMJ & Jaw Pain Relief

Simple movements you can use between sessions to improve posture, support muscle balance, and reduce tension:

  1. Chin Tuck (Deep Neck Flexor Reset)
    Lie on your back or stand tall against a wall. Gently tuck your chin to create a double chin—not looking down, just drawing back. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.
    → This helps elongate the suboccipitals and strengthen the deep neck flexors for better head and neck alignment.

  1. 90/90 Breathing (For Acute Tension or Overload)
    Lie on your back with feet on a chair or couch—knees and hips at 90°. Lightly press heels down, exhale fully through pursed lips, and breathe into the lower ribs.
    → This calms the nervous system, decompresses the spine, and helps release protective bracing.

  2. Jaw Awareness Reset
    Let your tongue rest on the roof of your mouth and keep the jaw relaxed—especially during stress, sleep, or workouts.
    → Helps reduce clenching and supports more easeful movement patterns.

  3. Suboccipital Release
    Lie on a yoga tune-up ball or rolled towel under the base of your skull. Relax and breathe slowly for 1–2 minutes.
    → Releases deep tension and supports neck/jaw mobility.

  4. TMJ Self-Massage
    Place your fingertips just below your cheekbones (near the TMJ). Apply gentle pressure into the muscle, then slowly open your mouth while gliding your fingers downward along the masseter.
    → Helps release tension in the jaw and improves awareness of clenching patterns.

!! When Acupuncture Isn’t the First Step

Please seek medical attention first if you notice:

  • Sudden jaw locking or inability to open/close the mouth

  • Severe jaw pain after trauma or dental procedures

  • Numbness, tingling, or facial drooping

  • Headache with visual changes or slurred speech

  • Jaw pain accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath

Once cleared, we’re here to support your recovery.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms or a medical emergency, please seek appropriate medical attention.

Ready to Stop Clenching Through It?

If jaw pain is interfering with how you eat, sleep, or train—it’s not “just stress.” Let’s release the deeper tension and get your whole system moving better.


Serving Whistler, Pemberton & the Sea to Sky Corridor.