Temporalis Muscle Massage for Jaw Pain & Headaches | Easy TMJ Self-Treatment

Tight temples, TMJ/TMD jaw pain, or tension headaches? The temporalis muscle could be the hidden culprit. In this video, I’ll show you how to release trigger points in the temporalis with simple self-massage techniques—so you can ease TMJ pain, reduce headaches, and even calm toothache-like pain at home.

The temporalis is one of the most overlooked muscles in jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction. Stress, posture, clenching, and teeth grinding can overload it, leading to headaches, temple pain, or jaw stiffness. By following this video, you’ll learn how to test your jaw, locate common trigger points, and release both the muscle and tendon for lasting relief.

📌 Tip: The temporalis also responds really well to heat! I’ve linked another video below that shows you the best ways to apply heat for jaw and temple relief.

📖 Chapters
0:00 Intro – Why Your Temples Ache & Jaw Feels Tight
0:17 What the Temporalis Muscle Does (Jaw & Headache Link)
0:43 Causes of Temporalis Tension (Stress, Clenching, Gum, Posture)
1:02 Hidden Source of Headaches & Tooth Pain
1:17 Jaw Test Before Treatment (Clicking, Locking, Smoothness)
1:33 Finding the Temporalis Muscle (Self-Palpation)
1:53 Common Trigger Point Locations & Referral Pain
2:17 How to Self-Massage the Temporalis (Step by Step)
2:59 Expanding Massage Into the Hairline
3:26 Trigger Point Release with Static Pressure
3:43 Advanced Release – Pressure + Jaw Opening
4:26 Stepping It Up – Treating the Tendon Inside the Mouth
5:00 Locating the Coronoid Process (Inside-Mouth Release)
5:40 Squeezing the Temporalis Tendon (Internal Technique)
6:09 Retest Your Jaw – Smoother Opening & Less Tension
6:27 Tips for Best Results (Breathing, Shoulders, Gentle Pressure)
6:47 How Often to Do This for Relief
6:59 Bonus Tip – Heat for Temporalis Muscle Relief

Learn to do this for your patients with Simply TMJ https://dynamictherapies.com

📌 If you find this helpful, hit the like button and subscribe for more simple, evidence-based TMJ and jaw pain relief tips every week!