Dominic Stone
The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in the human body, connecting the jawbone and cheekbone and enabling important actions such as chewing and opening/closing the mouth. Jaw clenching, often caused by stress, can lead to a tightening of the masseter muscle, which in turn can cause tension headaches. A masseter muscle massage can help to alleviate this pain and reduce discomfort. This can be done by using your fingers to apply pressure to the muscle, either externally or internally, and can be supported by tools such as the Trigger Fairy.
How to Massage the Masseter Muscle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Reduce jaw pain and tension headaches |
| Muscle Location | Connects jawbone and cheekbone |
| Massage Techniques | Ischemic compression, precise massage strokes, pressure-motion technique |
| Massage Tools | Fingers, Trigger Fairy |
| Massage Steps | Place fingers inside and outside of the mouth, press fingers into painful tensions in the muscle, apply pressure and hold for 15-20 seconds |
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What You'll Learn
Using your fingers to massage the masseter muscle
The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in your body by weight and is responsible for closing the mouth and setting the teeth together for chewing. It is located behind the cheeks and can generate hundreds of pounds of force. When irritated, masseter muscle knots can cause several problems, including tension headaches, earaches, toothaches, dizziness, tinnitus, teeth grinding, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).
To perform a self-massage on your masseter muscle, start by locating the muscle. Place two or three fingers on the muscles below your cheekbones and gently clench your teeth. You should feel the muscle tighten. Alternatively, you can place the pads of your fingers or knuckles at the masseter muscle, open your jaw as much as you can, close your mouth, and repeat this process until you feel the muscle release.
Once you have located the muscle, use your fingers or knuckles to apply firm pressure in small circular motions. You can also try gently pinching the muscle between your thumb, placed inside your mouth, and your finger on the cheek. Apply pressure for 10-20 seconds, allowing the discomfort to decrease before moving on or applying more pressure. Repeat this process along the entire length of the masseter muscle.
Combining pressure application on trigger points with stretching can improve the effectiveness of the self-massage. For example, try holding the pressure while slowly opening and closing your mouth. You can also try a deep stroking massage from the cheekbone down towards the jawline to elongate the masseter muscle fibres and provide relief from tightness.
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Using the Trigger Fairy to massage the masseter muscle
The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in the body and plays a major role in chewing. When this muscle tightens up, it can lead to tension headaches and jaw pain. To reduce this pain and release tension from the jaw, one can use the Trigger Fairy to massage the masseter muscle.
The Trigger Fairy is designed according to the principle of bionic methodology and in cooperation with experts. It is manufactured in Germany using the latest injection moulding production methods. The Trigger Fairy is made of robust high-tech polypropylene, which is skin-friendly and suitable for food applications. It is also available in recycled material.
To use the Trigger Fairy to massage the masseter muscle, first locate the muscle by placing your thumb inside your mouth, outside your teeth along the side of your cheek. Reach your fingers behind your jawline, opposite your thumb. Clench your jaw to feel the muscle. Once you have located the muscle, use the Trigger Fairy to massage the area, applying pressure to the trigger points.
You can also use your fingers to massage the masseter muscle. Place the pads of your fingers or knuckles at the masseter muscle and apply pressure. Repeat this process along the entire length of the muscle to treat tension and pain.
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Identifying trigger points and pain patterns
Trigger points, or TrPs, are muscle "knots" that cause aches and pains. The masseter muscle is one of the most common locations for trigger points in the human body. It is the main muscle used for chewing and clenching the jaw, and it covers the sides of the jaw just behind the cheeks.
Trigger points in the masseter muscle can cause pain in the following areas:
- Cheek and upper molar area
- Jaw and lower molar area
- Ear, which can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Temple and eyebrow area, which can cause tension-type headaches
These pains can often lead to misdiagnosis, as the pain may be attributed to issues with the teeth or sinuses, rather than the masseter muscle.
To identify trigger points in the masseter muscle, a palpation examination can be performed, which involves feeling the muscle for discomfort, muscle nodules, or a jump sign. A masseter muscle that feels hard or "ropy" may indicate the presence of trigger points. In addition, a mirror can be used to observe any asymmetries or deviations in jaw movement, which can also indicate potential trigger points.
Identifying the trigger points in the masseter muscle is important for effective management and treatment of the pain. Self-massage techniques, such as gentle rubbing in small circular motions or applying consistent pressure, can help locate and alleviate tight spots in the masseter muscle.
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Reducing jaw pain and tension headaches
Tension in the jaw can lead to headaches and even migraines, as the masseter muscle is interconnected with the neck muscles and plays a major role in chewing. When the masseter muscle becomes sore and strained, it can send pain up through the head.
To reduce jaw pain and tension headaches, a simple masseter massage can be performed. This can be done anywhere and takes just a few minutes.
Firstly, a warm, damp washcloth can be applied to the area in front of the ear for 5-10 minutes to loosen the muscle. Then, place your first three fingers between your jaw and cheekbone, in front of your ear, and apply gentle pressure as you slowly rub up and down along the muscle for 3-4 minutes. This can be done 2-3 times per day.
Other exercises that can help ease tension in the neck and masseter muscles include neck extension, shoulder shrugs, neck rotation, and neck flexion. These should be done correctly and repeatedly to be effective.
It is important to note that self-massage must be done gently and consciously, without pushing or pulling too hard, as this can damage the jaw joint.
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Locating the masseter muscle
The masseter muscle is one of four muscles responsible for the action of mastication (chewing). It is a powerful, thick, and rectangular muscle with two divisions: superficial and deep. It is also one of the strongest muscles in the human body. The masseter muscle originates from the zygomatic arch and inserts along the angle and lateral surface of the mandibular ramus. The deep head of the muscle is partly concealed, anteriorly, by the superficial portion.
The masseter muscle's positioning is a distinguishing feature of hystricognathous creatures, such as mole-rats, where it passes partially through the infraorbital foramen and connects to the bone on the opposite side. In toothed whales, the masseter muscle, made redundant by a shift from chewing to swallowing, provides the tissue for acoustic fat bodies used for echolocation.
The medial aspect of the masseter muscle forms the lateral wall of the facial space called the submasseteric space. It is a paired potential space between the lateral aspect of the mandible and the medial aspect of the masseter muscle. The temporal muscle is found deep to the posterior part of the inner aspect of the muscle, or simply posteromedially. The buccinator muscle is located anterior to the masseter muscle.
The masseter muscle is innervated by the masseteric nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3) of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve carries both sensory and motor fibres. The sensory fibres of the mandibular nerve provide sensation to the lower teeth, gums, and lip, as well as the skin of the chin and lower jaw. The masseter muscle receives its vascular supply from the masseteric artery, a branch of the maxillary artery.
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Frequently asked questions
The masseter is the thick muscle that connects your jawbone and cheekbone and is used for chewing.
You can massage the masseter muscle with your fingers or with a Trigger Fairy massager. First, find the muscle by placing your thumb inside your mouth, outside your teeth along your cheek. Reach your fingers behind your jawline, then clench your jaw. Massage the most painful spots without increasing the pain.
Massaging the masseter muscle can help reduce jaw pain and tension headaches.
Aside from massage, there are other ways to treat pain in the masseter muscle. Identifying and avoiding the triggers of your jaw clenching can help prevent the muscle from tightening.
