TMJ & Jaw Clenching
That tight, achy jaw by 3pm.
Clenching, grinding, that sore jaw you wake up with, the headache that sits right at your temples. You're so not alone, we see it every single day. Whether it's stress, late nights, or just how you're wired, there's a gentle, targeted treatment that can ease the tension for most people. No pressure, no judgment, just real talk and a plan that fits you.
TMJ & Jaw Clenching
That tight, achy jaw by 3pm.
Clenching, grinding, that sore jaw you wake up with, the headache that sits right at your temples. You're so not alone, we see it every single day. Whether it's stress, late nights, or just how you're wired, there's a gentle, targeted treatment that can ease the tension for most people. No pressure, no judgment, just real talk and a plan that fits you.
CONCERN & CAUSES
Why Your Jaw Won't Relax
The masseter is the big muscle on the side of your jaw that does the chewing. When you clench or grind a lot, it stays switched on and overworked, which can lead to tension, soreness, and headaches for many people. Knowing what's driving it helps us figure out the gentlest way to help.
01
Daytime Clenching
Stress, focus, and busy days have a way of settling right in your jaw. You might not even notice you're clenching until it's sore and tight by the afternoon.
02
Nighttime Grinding
Grinding while you sleep, often called bruxism, can leave you waking up with a tired, achy jaw. A dentist's night guard protects your teeth, and relaxing the muscle can ease the pressure behind it for most people.
03
Jaw Tension & Headaches
An overworked masseter can refer pain up into your temples and around your ears. For a lot of people, calming that muscle helps the tension headaches settle too.
04
A Wider, Stronger Jaw
Years of clenching can build the masseter up, which can make the lower face look a little wider. Relaxing it can soften that look gradually as well, which is a nice bonus for some people.
Treatment Benefits
Gentle options to relax a clenched jaw
Easing jaw tension starts with checking what's actually going on. Your provider feels how your jaw muscles are working first, then walks you through whether a small dose of neuromodulator into the masseter is a good fit. It often pairs beautifully with a dentist's night guard, and we'll always be honest about what's realistic for you.
Masseter Botox
A neuromodulator placed into the masseter, the main chewing muscle, to gently reduce how hard it clenches and grinds.
Great for anyone dealing with daytime clenching, soreness, or a strong jaw they'd love to soften. Your provider checks your jaw muscles first to see if it fits.
Relaxing the overworked muscle eases the tension behind clenching, and a less active muscle can slim the jawline gradually for some people. Results vary.
A quick visit with a few tiny injections, no real downtime. Easing of tension can build over a couple of weeks, and we'll check in to fine-tune your dose.
Botox for TMJ
A neuromodulator treatment aimed at the muscles behind TMJ tension, helping calm clenching and the soreness that comes with it.
Best for people whose clenching or grinding is causing jaw pain, tension headaches, or a tired jaw. It pairs well with a dentist's night guard.
By relaxing the overworked jaw muscle, it can take the pressure off so day-to-day tension and headaches ease for many people. Results vary.
A short in-clinic visit with a few small injections. Relief tends to build over a week or two, and we'll review how you're doing and adjust as needed.
How to protect your results and ease the tension
Relaxing the masseter does a lot of the heavy lifting, but a few easy habits help the tension stay settled between visits. These keep your jaw comfortable while the treatment does its thing, and they support your results over time.
Pair With a Night Guard
If you grind in your sleep, a dentist-fitted night guard protects your teeth while the treatment relaxes the muscle. The two work really nicely together for most people.
Notice the Clench
Stress has a way of living in the jaw. Once you start catching yourself clenching, you can gently unclench, drop your shoulders, and rest your tongue at the roof of your mouth.
Ease Daytime Tension
Soft foods on sore days, a warm compress on a tight jaw, and regular breaks from gum and tough chewing all give the muscle a little rest between sessions.
Keep Up Your Schedule
The effect on the muscle is temporary, so coming back when your provider suggests keeps the tension from creeping back. We'll map out timing that suits you.
Look After Your Skin Too
While you're caring for your jaw, a simple medical-grade routine with daily SPF keeps the surrounding skin healthy and protected. Ask our team what suits you.
Recommended Skincare
Medical-Grade Skin Protocol
Ask our team about a simple medical-grade routine (a retinol plus daily SPF) that looks after the skin around your jaw and lower face while you treat the tension underneath, keeping everything healthy and protected.
Who provides your care
Nurse Practitioner-led care you can trust
Your plan is guided by Jennifer Holman, NP, our owner and a Nurse Practitioner with over 14 years in medicine, a Key Opinion Leader for Galderma and Xcite Technologies, and Chair of APANS. You may also be cared for by our aesthetic nurse injector Lia Harding, RN, or our Medical Aesthetician Natasha Grbesa. We assess your skin and full health history first, talk through whether a treatment is right for you, including anyone who should wait such as during pregnancy or with an active skin infection, and only recommend what genuinely suits you. All care follows Ontario's medical oversight rules.
Skin Club Membership
Join the Skin Club
Exclusive Savings on Every Visit.
Beautiful skin is a long-term commitment, and Skin Club membership makes that commitment rewarding. Members receive preferred pricing across all treatments, priority booking with their preferred practitioner, and a personalized treatment roadmap so results keep building with every visit.
Discounted treatment packages and member-only pricing
Priority booking and scheduling with your preferred practitioner
Complimentary skin assessments & personalized treatment plans
A plan built around your face, not a template.
Same-week consultations. No referral required. Our team walks you through what they see, and what they'd actually recommend.
FAQ
Common questions about
jaw clenching & TMJ
For a lot of people, yes. By relaxing the masseter muscle that does the clenching, the constant tension can ease off. It isn't a guaranteed fix for everyone, so your provider checks your jaw first and is always honest about what's realistic for you. Results vary.
When headaches are coming from an overworked jaw muscle, calming that muscle can help the tension settle for many people. We'll talk through your symptoms at your consult so we can set realistic expectations together.
Relaxing a strong, clenched masseter can soften a wider jawline gradually over time, which a lot of people love as a bonus. It happens slowly and naturally, and your provider personalizes the dose so it suits your face.
The muscle-relaxing effect is temporary and tends to last a few months for most people, then gently wears off. Coming back when your provider suggests keeps the tension from creeping back in. We'll map out timing that fits you.
Usually yes, if you grind in your sleep. A dentist's night guard protects your teeth, and relaxing the muscle eases the pressure behind the grinding. The two genuinely work better as a team for most people.
Honestly, barely. We're talking a few tiny pinches, and you're in and out quickly. Our team takes their time with every client and keeps you comfy the whole way. Nervous? Just tell us, we've got you.