About
Jaw pain, bruxism and
ATM: a holistic approach to the body
Jaw tension is common and can manifest in various ways: clenching teeth, grinding teeth (bruxism), discomfort when opening the mouth, clicking of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or facial pain.
At SOMA, the Somatic Manual Approach considers these manifestations in their entirety. Rather than being limited to the jaw, it focuses on the interactions between different regions of the body, tension patterns, and the functioning of the nervous system.
Why can the jaw become painful?
The jaw plays a role in many everyday functions: speaking, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. It is also connected to the neck, skull, and overall posture.
Some tensions can appear gradually, sometimes as a result of prolonged stress, trauma, dental work, a change in occlusion, or simply as the body makes adaptations.
When they persist, these tensions can affect the comfort of the jaw but also that of more distant regions.
An area closely connected to the rest of the body
The jaw does not function in isolation. It participates in many everyday movements and is part of a system that includes the face, skull, neck, and breathing.
In a holistic body approach, it can therefore be interesting to observe not only the jaw, but also how the person breathes, moves and feels tension throughout the body.
What place for SOMA?
Each session begins with a time for discussion in order to better understand your history, your symptoms and your expectations.
The manual work is then entirely personalized. Although the jaw may be the main reason for consultation, the session is not limited to this area.
Depending on what is observed, the support may also focus on the skull, cervical spine, diaphragm, thorax, or other areas involved in the overall balance of the body.
Each session evolves according to the person's needs and the responses observed throughout the process.
The support offered is gentle and individualized manual work, paying attention to tensions, bodily sensations, breathing and the quality of movement.
The aim is to offer a space for listening to the body and for comfort, in addition to medical or dental care when necessary.