What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm

The TMJ Clinic

Home
Canada
Owen Sound, ON
The TMJ Clinic

Do you want to be able to enjoy your favourite foods without pain? Find relief from the discomfort of clenching your jaw? Does any of this resonate with you?

Or reduce the frequency and intensity of your headaches. If so, I can help you feel better. My practice is focused on working with individuals with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Living with TMD myself, combined with taking advanced training in intra-oral massage and receiving this therapy to help me cope has given me a unique advantage. It has enabled me to be empathetic to my clients a

nd effectively provide relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of these conditions. I’ve been a massage therapist since 2009, practicing in Owen Sound after graduating from Georgian College with honours. I’ve worked in a variety of settings with physiotherapists and chiropractors, as well as spas. This has allowed me to develop collaborative relationships with other health care practitioners. These connections facilitate me to create well rounded treatment plans to provide the best possible outcomes for my clients. I enjoy working with individuals like you because I’ve lived your struggle and I know how difficult it can be. But I also know what it’s like to feel better and I want to help you feel the same way. Let’s get started working together to get you some relief, schedule your appointment today.

07/31/2025

First off I spent way too much time trying to time this reel 😩🤣

Ok so let’s get to the BS that’s been circulating about jaw pain that you’ve probably been told.

🍳 Just eat soft food until your jaw feels better.

Look, eating soft food temporarily can help during a flare-up—but if your whole treatment plan is “avoid chewing,” you’re not healing anything… you’re just babysitting the problem.

Your jaw is a joint. Joints need movement and load to stay healthy. Imagine telling someone with a sore knee to never walk again. Make it make sense.

🦷 Nightguards will fix it.

These appliances are incredibly helpful at protecting your teeth from clenching and grinding. But will it fix your jaw pain, no. The long term fix is getting to the root of the clenching/grinding.

🧘‍♀️ You just need to relax.

Stress gets blamed for everything.
Your jaw isn’t tight because Mercury’s in retrograde—it’s tight because of posture, habits, airway, muscle tension, or maybe a tongue that doesn’t know where it lives. Let’s not gaslight your face.

👩‍⚕️ Only dentists treat TMJD.

Dentists are amazing and an important part of the team—but if your treatment plan doesn’t involve someone who knows the muscles, joints, airway, and nervous system? You’re missing key pieces of the puzzle. You deserve the full picture.

🩻 Your imaging is fine, so you’re “fine”

You can have a picture-perfect MRI and still be in pain. Why? Because scans don’t show muscle tension, joint dysfunction, nerve irritation, or how your jaw actually moves.

Pain ≠ visible damage. You need an assessment of your function, not just a pretty picture.

If you’ve heard any of these before—yeah, same. And no, you’re not crazy.
Jaw pain is complicated, but it’s also treatable when you stop relying on outdated advice and start getting real support.

Your face deserves better.
Your jaw deserves answers.
And you? Deserve to eat a damn bagel without regret.

👉 Ready for actual help with your TMJ? Book an assessment 💻 admin@thetmjclinic.ca, or shoot me a message—I’ve got you.

07/04/2025

You’ve probably been told to eat soft food, reduce stress, and wear a night guard — and then wondered why your jaw still hurts.
Because none of those things get to the root cause.

And that’s where I come in.

💀 1. “Just eat soft foods”

Why people say it: To reduce irritation or avoid flare-ups.

Why I won’t tell you that:
Because that’s not rehab — that’s avoidance. It’s appropriate in the short term during a flare, it’s not meant to be forever.

👉 Long-term soft food diets = weakened jaw muscles, altered movement patterns, and more dysfunction over time. You’re meant to chew. We just need to restore your jaw’s ability to do it without pain.

💀 2. “It’s just stress”

Why people say it: Because clenching and grinding are stress-related, and it’s an easy (lazy) explanation.

Why Won’t Tell You That:
Because stress isn’t the whole story — and saying that makes people feel dismissed.

👉 What about your airway? Your habits? Your nervous system state? Your posture?

Yes, stress contributes — but if you only treat the stress, the jaw tension just… stays.

You’re not dramatic. You’re just being gaslit by bad advice.

💀 3. “A night guard will fix it”

Why people say it: It sounds logical — protect the teeth = solve the problem.

Why I won’t tell you that:
Because a night guard is just a protective shell. It’s amazing for not cracking and damaging your teeth, but it doesn’t stop the clenching.

👉 It protects the teeth, but the muscles are still overworking. The system is still dysregulated. You need rehab, not just a dental appliance.

06/04/2025

Just when your jaw was finally feeling better… BAM — it flares up. 😩

Before you spiral, let’s get one thing straight:

Flare-ups are a normal part of the healing process.

Annoying? Absolutely.

A sign you’re broken? Not even close.

TMJ rehab is about retraining movement, reducing overload, and restoring function — and that takes time. Your jaw isn’t fragile, it’s just adapting.

Here are 5 common reasons your symptoms might spike during recovery:

👉 Increased load (chewing more, doing more)

👉 Stress or poor sleep

👉 Changing a habit (like nasal breathing or posture, it can feel like a full time job at first)

👉 Dental work or appliance changes

👉 New movement patterns (neck, tongue, posture shifts)

The fix?

Modify, don’t quit.

Scale back temporarily, revisit your basics, and keep showing up.

✨ Healing isn’t linear — but that doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.✨

Been flaring up lately? Let me know below or drop a 💪 if you’re still in the game.

Let’s normalize the ups and downs of jaw rehab.

06/03/2025

🚨 Just because your jaw hurts doesn’t mean it’s fragile forever.
⁠
Eating soft foods while your jaw is flared up? Totally valid.
⁠
Still living off mashed potatoes months later? That’s a red flag, friend.
⁠
Your jaw is a joint — and like every other joint in your body, it needs movement and load to recover properly.
⁠
A soft food diet is a short-term strategy, not a lifestyle. Otherwise, your muscles weaken, your tolerance drops, and every chewy meal becomes a new source of pain.
⁠
💡What your jaw actually needs?

➡️ Progressive loading
➡️ Targeted rehab
➡️ Better function, not just less pain
⁠
If you’ve been stuck on the squishy stuff and your jaw still isn’t happy, it’s time for a different plan.
⁠
🧠Want help with that?

DM “Jaw”and let’s get you chewing like a champ again.

05/28/2025

Jaw pain got you spiraling into Google doom?

Let’s clear something up:

not everyone who says they treat TMJ… actually knows what they’re doing. 🙃

If your “treatment plan” has been:

👉 Soft food diet
👉 Heat pack
👉 Vibes and prayers

…you’ve been underwhelmed. And under-treated.

Here’s what a legit TMJD provider brings to the table.

🧠 They ask about breathing, sleep, posture, and your nervous system — not just “point to where it hurts”

📞 They actually know and refer to other pros: dentist, physio, ENT, sleep specialists.

💪 They give you HOMEWORK — because your jaw doesn’t fix itself between appointments.

🚩 They don’t rely on cookie-cutter protocols or blame you when “it’s still tight”

✨ The jaw is complex. Your provider should be, too. (In a good way)

You deserve someone who gets that TMJD is not just a jaw issue — it’s a whole-body, whole-person situation.

📥 DM me if you’re tired of the runaround and want help finally saying goodbye to jaw pain.

And for the love of all things clicking and popping — save this for later. Your future self will thank you.

05/15/2025

I see you. You’ve tried everything for your jaw—but it still hurts.

You’ve done the mouthguard.
You’ve seen the chiro.
Physio? Been there.
Botox? Yup—still clenching.
Massage? Helped for a minute, but the pain always comes back.

And now you’re wondering: Is this just how my jaw is?

Here’s the truth:

TMJD isn’t just a tight muscle issue.
It’s a complex puzzle involving your bite, nervous system, posture, breathing, habits, and even your tongue.

If all you’ve been offered is “try to relax” or “wear this guard at night”—you’ve only scratched the surface.

So what actually helps?

Here’s what I’ve seen make real change in my patients:

🔥 Understanding the root cause. Is it tension? Airway? A trauma pattern?

🔥Fixing the habits that fuel pain. Like that side sleeping and unconscious jaw bracing while focusing.

🔥Learning self-treatment techniques. (Yes, you can do effective jaw release work yourself—if you know what you’re doing.)

🔥 Addressing the emotional connection. The jaw is where we hold a LOT of stress. It’s not woo—it’s neuroscience.

🔥Creating a plan that makes sense. Not random one-offs. A guided, logical strategy.

If your jaw pain hasn’t improved, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

💣 It’s because the approach hasn’t been complete 💣

That’s where I come in…

A clear, empowering roadmap that helps you understand your jaw—and what to do about it.

You can feel better. You just need the right tools.

Ready to finally understand your jaw pain?

DM me “JAW” and I’ll send you the info.

05/13/2025

Here’s the deal:

Jaw hypermobility isn’t just about how much it moves — it’s about how well it moves.

And when the muscles around it don’t know what they’re doing? Chaos. Clicking. Clenching. Maybe even dislocations.

So yes, stabilizing is important — but here’s what most people don’t tell you:

➡️ Your nervous system needs convincing.

If your jaw doesn’t feel safe, it’s not going to stabilize. That means slow, low-load, repetitive movement is key. Think: tiny controlled open/close movements with zero drama. Let your brain relearn “safe and steady.”

➡️ You need to manage systemic hypermobility, too.

If you’ve got bendy elbows, knees, and can touch your thumb to your wrist (what even), then your jaw is part of a bigger picture. That may mean longer rehab time — and more need for consistency over intensity.

➡️ Your habits are probably making things worse.

Mouth breathing? Constantly talking, chewing gum, yawning like a lion, slouching at your desk? All of it piles stress on an already unstable system.

It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing the right things, consistently, without making your jaw do backflips every time you yawn.

If that sounds like you, I can help.

Follow for jaw help minus the fluff.

05/12/2025

Your jaw deserves better. Here’s how to stop sabotaging it—one weird little habit at a time.

Habit: Gum Chewing

The Problem: Constant chewing = overworked jaw.

The Fix:

👍🏻Switch to mints or lozenges.
👍🏻Add lemon, strawberry, or cucumber to water.
👍🏻Ask yourself: Am I hungry, bored, or stressed?

Habit: Nail Biting

The Problem: Microtrauma to the jaw .

The Fix:

👍🏻Keep nails trimmed or polished.
👍🏻Use bitter-tasting polish.
👍🏻Replace with a fidget ring/toy, not your molars.

Habit: Clenching

The Problem: Hello, tension headaches and sore jaw.

The Fix:
👍🏻Use reminders (Post-Its, phone alerts) to “unclench”.
👍🏻Try the “lips together, teeth apart” mantra.
👍🏻Stress = clench city. Work in regular decompression time.

Habit: Resting Chin on Hand

The Problem: Uneven pressure warps jaw alignment over time.

The Fix:

👍🏻Train yourself to notice (ahem, that jaw/neck ache is a clue).
👍🏻Occupy that hand—doodle, hold a stress ball, pet a fur baby.

Habit: Opening Things with Teeth

The Problem: Your teeth aren’t tools—they’re victims.

The Fix:

👍🏻Keep scissors/keychain multi-tools handy.

Tiny Habits = Big Jaw Wins

Which one are you ditching first?

Drop a “BYE” to the worst one in the comments.

Address

345 8th Street E. Suite #209
Owen Sound, ON
N4K1L3

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.thetmjclinic.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The TMJ Clinic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Our Story

Are you looking to calm your mind and get relief from the physical discomforts of anxiety? Perhaps you want to be able to enjoy your favourite foods without pain? Or find relief from the discomfort of clenching your jaw?

Does any of this resonate with you? If so, I can help you feel better. My practice is focused on working with individuals with anxiety disorders and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Living with anxiety and TMD myself, combined with taking advanced training in intra-oral massage and receiving this therapy to help me cope has given me a unique advantage. It has enabled me to be empathetic to my clients and effectively provide relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of these conditions.

I’ve been a massage therapist since 2009, practicing in Owen Sound after graduating from Georgian College with honours. I’ve worked in a variety of settings with physiotherapists and chiropractors, as well as spas. This has allowed me to develop collaborative relationships with other health care practitioners. These connections facilitate me to create well rounded treatment plans to provide the best possible outcomes for my clients.