SupremeJaw aching by the afternoon?
You catch yourself clenching at your desk. Your temples ache. Chewing tires you out and your jaw clicks when you yawn. The muscles that close your jaw are some of the strongest in your body and they don't switch off easily.
Nick Monczakowski 4.9 from 74 Google reviews · 13+ years
Jaw tension travels.
Tight jaw muscles can send pain to places you wouldn't expect. If any of these sound familiar, your jaw may be part of the story.
Temple headaches
The temporalis muscle fans across the side of your head. When it's tight, the ache sits at your temples.
Ear ache or fullness
The jaw joint sits just in front of your ear. Tension here can feel like ear pain when your ears are fine.
Aching teeth
Clenching loads your teeth and tight jaw muscles can refer pain into them. Worth ruling out with your dentist.
A tight neck
Jaw and neck muscles work as a team. A tight jaw rarely comes without a tight neck.
Clenching is a habit. Not a choice.
Stress goes to your jaw.
Concentration, deadlines and worry make most of us clench without noticing. Hours a day adds up.
Your head sits forward.
A forward head position changes how your jaw rests and keeps the muscles around it working. Desk posture plays a part.
It happens in your sleep.
Many people clench or grind at night. You wake up with the ache and no idea where it came from.
Jaw, temples and neck together.
Masseter
The main chewing muscle, worked carefully from the outside of the face to ease the clench.
Temporalis
Release across the temples, where so many jaw headaches sit.
Suboccipitals & SCM
The muscles at the base of the skull and front of the neck that move with your jaw.
Upper traps
Easing the shoulders lets your head and jaw sit more comfortably.
Your dentist and Nick.
Jaw pain often needs both. Each looks after a different part of the problem.
Teeth, joint and night guards
Checks your teeth and jaw joint, spots wear from grinding and can fit a guard to protect your teeth at night.
The muscles doing the clenching
Releases the jaw, temple, neck and shoulder muscles and helps you build habits that keep them calmer during the day.
Jaw myths. Busted.
“Clicking means something's broken.”
Tap to flip →Clicking on its own is common and often painless. Pain, locking or a jaw that won't open fully are worth getting checked.
“A mouthguard will sort it.”
Tap to flip →A guard protects your teeth at night. The tight muscles doing the clenching still need attention.
“Massage can't reach the jaw.”
Tap to flip →The main jaw muscles sit just under the skin of your cheeks and temples. They respond well to careful hands-on work.
One hour. Unclench.
- 01
Talk
When you clench, any headaches and anything your dentist has told you.
- 02
Assess
How your jaw opens, plus hands-on assessment of your jaw, temples, neck and shoulders.
- 03
Treat
Careful release of the jaw and temples, then the neck and shoulders that work with them.
- 04
Plan
Simple habits to catch yourself clenching and gentle self-massage you can do at your desk.
Tension released. In their words.
“I've got noticeable results from just one session… The tension in my neck has reduced considerably which helps with my singing.”
Rosa · Singer & dancer“He is really knowledgable and explains what he is doing and where he feels the underlying issue coming from.”
Mayo · Google review“It focused on my back pain and tension/ knots in my neck and shoulders. I left the session pain-free, totally relaxed and with greater understanding of my body.”
Eva · Back, neck & shouldersBefore you book for your jaw.
Can massage help jaw pain and TMJ?
Yes, when the pain comes from tight jaw, temple and neck muscles, which is very common. Nick works on the masseter and temporalis from the outside, along with your neck and shoulders. It works well alongside your dentist's care.
Do I need to see a dentist first?
If you grind your teeth, have tooth pain or your jaw locks, see your dentist as well. They can check your teeth and jaw joint and fit a guard if you need one. Massage looks after the muscles. The two work well together.
Does jaw massage hurt?
It can feel tender, as tight jaw muscles often are. Nick works carefully and checks in as he goes. Most people find it a relief.
Can jaw tension cause headaches?
Yes. The temporalis runs across your temples and often causes headaches when it's tight. Jaw tension also travels with neck tension, a common cause of tension headaches.
How many sessions will I need?
Many people feel looser after one session. Long-standing clenching usually settles with 3 to 4 sessions and a few simple habits during the day.
When to see your GP first
Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you have jaw pain with chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or pain spreading into your arm.
Call NHS 111 or see your GP before booking if you have jaw pain with any of these:
- Your jaw locks open or shut
- Swelling in your face or jaw, or a fever
- Jaw pain after a blow to the face
- Numbness in your face, or pain that's severe and constant
Not sure? WhatsApp Nick a quick description first. If massage isn't the right first step, he'll tell you before you book.
Jaw tension rarely comes alone.
Give your jaw a day off.
- £80 first session, assessment included
- Mon–Fri 11am–7pm
- Near New Malden station · free street parking
- Personal reply from Nick, usually same day
“If you're reading this thinking: should I book? Just go ahead and do it.”