Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions

07/02/2026

Jaw tension doesn’t stay in the jaw.

When there’s clenching, TMJ dysfunction, or a misaligned bite, head posture changes.
Your body then compensates to stay balanced — often by shifting weight or tilting the pelvis.

If your jaw is clenched, the pelvic floor is often overactive or not coordinating properly.
This impacts posture, breathing, and how the nervous system manages tension.

Here’s what’s really happening ⬇️

1️⃣ Jaw clenching is a postural pattern
Under stress, the jaw tightens. The head moves forward.
The rest of the body adapts around it.

2️⃣ Tension doesn’t stay local
Jaw tension travels through the neck, spine, hips — even into the knees and feet.

3️⃣ The pelvis compensates
When the jaw locks, the pelvis may tilt or rotate to restore balance.
This often shows up as low back pain or one-sided hip tightness.

4️⃣ Movement and breathing are affected
A clenched jaw alters breathing, balance, and walking mechanics.
The discomfort may be felt in the joints — but it often starts at the jaw.

Most people don’t realise the jaw and pelvis are functionally connected.
Both play a role in core stability and spinal support.

Over time, these compensations can contribute to:
• chronic hip or back pain
• pelvic instability
• forward head posture
• ongoing TMJ symptoms

At Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions, we look beyond the jaw — addressing posture, breathing, and whole-body balance to support long-term relief.

📍 Southend-on-Sea
🌐 essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk
📞 07740 987519

TMJRelief SouthendOnSea EssexWellness

30/01/2026

https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk

30/01/2026

Wow… 1,000 Google review views! 🎉
A client messaged me today to say her review of Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions has been seen over a thousand times – and I’m honestly so proud.

Every review helps someone feel less alone, more informed, and more confident about getting support for their TMJ.
Thank you for trusting me and for sharing your experiences 🩵 #

https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk

25/01/2026

Something I always talk about with my clients as the TMJ is affected as well as the neck

https://www.facebook.com/share/15Zv5ECwi77/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Text Neck” Explained – What Your Phone Is Doing to Your Neck

This image powerfully shows how head position directly multiplies the load on your cervical spine. The human head weighs about 4–5 kg in neutral posture, but as the head tilts forward, the effective load on the neck increases dramatically.

🟢 0° – Neutral Head Position (≈ 5 kg)

When your ears are aligned over your shoulders, the cervical spine carries only the true weight of the head. Muscles work efficiently, discs are evenly loaded, and stress on joints is minimal. This is the safest and most energy-efficient posture.

🟡 15° Forward Tilt (≈ 12 kg)

A small forward tilt nearly doubles the load on the neck. Neck extensors must contract continuously to prevent the head from falling forward, increasing muscle fatigue and early stiffness.

🟠 30° Forward Tilt (≈ 18 kg)

At this angle—very common during phone use—the cervical spine experiences almost four times the normal load. Disc pressure increases, posterior neck muscles are overstretched, and joint compression rises.

🔴 60° Forward Tilt (≈ 27 kg)

This is the most stressful position. The neck now supports more than five times the head’s actual weight. Ligaments, discs, and muscles are overloaded, increasing the risk of:

Chronic neck pain

Disc degeneration

Headaches and nerve irritation

🧠 Why This Matters

The neck is designed for mobility, not sustained load. Holding the head forward for long periods causes cumulative micro-stress that builds silently over time. This is why neck pain often appears gradually rather than suddenly.

01/01/2026

I’m raising awareness and funds for this wonderful charity. Please support me with a small donation. 🩵

Hi there, This month, I’m walking 50 Miles for Dementia UK – a cause close to my heart. Just £10 could pay for the telephone costs of two families calling its free Dementia Helpline, so any support would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

https://fundraise.dementiauk.org/fundraisers/kathierawlinson/walk-50-miles-january

01/01/2026

A recent scientific study looked at a hands-on therapy called Chuna manual therapy, used for people with TMJ pain.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0322402&fbclid=IwZnRzaAPDJ1JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEezDfvkKsR9e93krXJycY9m71GEfdpqMl7PiUQQijZ2GKedkGUGXWpGJkrkAI_aem_3YtNd9CqzqXy_cl_rPMPhQ

Instead of medication or surgery, this therapy involved:
• Gentle manual pressure
• Soft tissue work
• Joint and muscle mobilisation

👉 Very similar to many modern hands-on bodywork approaches.

The results?
• Pain levels were similar to standard physical therapy
• BUT people had better jaw movement, function, and quality of life
• Over time, patients felt and functioned better
• The treatment was also considered cost-effective

💡 In simple terms:

Hands-on manual therapy didn’t magically “erase pain”, but it helped people move better, feel better, and live more comfortably.

✨ Different name. Same foundations.

Both approaches:
• Reduce protective muscle guarding
• Improve blood flow and tissue health
• Encourage the jaw, neck, and face to move more freely
• Help the body feel safer, which often reduces pain signals

⸻

🧠 Why results can be similar — even without the same label

Pain (especially TMJ pain) isn’t just about one tight muscle or joint.

It’s influenced by:
• Muscle tension
• Fascia restriction
• Stress & nervous system overload
• Poor movement patterns

💬 When hands-on therapy:
• Releases tension
• Improves movement
• Helps the nervous system relax

👉 Pain often reduces as a side-effect, not because it was “forced away”.

That’s why myofascial release and massage can produce very similar positive outcomes to Chuna — even though the techniques come from different traditions.

⸻

📌 The takeaway for patients

✔️ You don’t always need aggressive treatment
✔️ Gentle, skilled hands-on therapy works
✔️ Improving function and comfort is just as important as chasing pain scores
✔️ The body often heals best when supported — not forced

https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk

31/12/2025

✨ Happy New Year from Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions ✨

Thank you to all our wonderful clients and followers for your continued trust and support. As we welcome 2026, we’re wishing you a year filled with comfort, balance, and jaw pain-free days ahead.

Here’s to better health, brighter smiles, and a happier, more relaxed you in 2026💫

24/12/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas & Thank You ✨🎄

As the year comes to a close, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of my wonderful clients for your trust, loyalty, and support throughout the year. It’s truly a privilege to be part of your journey toward better comfort and wellbeing.

I hope this festive season brings you rest, joy, and time with the people who matter most. Wishing you a happy, healthy jaw-pain-free New Year, filled with comfort, smiles, and fresh starts.

Thank you again for your custom — I look forward to supporting you in the year ahead.

🎁❄️ With warmest wishes,
Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions

https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk

23/12/2025

🧠 The Jaw Is Not Just Mechanical. It’s Emotional.

The TMJ sits beside the brain’s threat and survival centres.
This is where stress is processed.
Where vigilance lives.
Where the body prepares to protect itself.

The vagus nerve passes directly through this space — the nerve responsible for calming the nervous system and helping us feel safe again.

The fascia around the jaw doesn’t just hold tension.
It holds experience.
Unspoken words.
Suppressed emotions.
Grief that had no place to land.

Many people with TMJ dysfunction have lived through prolonged stress, emotional overload, or trauma — even if they wouldn’t label it that way.

The body remembers what the mind had to survive.
And the jaw often clenches to keep it all together.

At Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions, we don’t just treat symptoms.
We listen to what your body has been holding.
We work gently, respectfully, and safely — supporting both the jaw and the nervous system.

Because healing isn’t about forcing release.
It’s about creating safety for it to happen.

🤍 Your body isn’t broken.
It’s been protecting you.

⸻

📍 Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions
🌐 https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk/
📞 07740 987519
✉️ essextmjholisticsolutions@gmail.com

23/12/2025

🧠 The Trigeminal System
One of the most overlooked links between jaw dysfunction, headaches, facial pain, autonomic symptoms & recovery

At the heart of many TMJ-related symptoms lies the trigeminal nerve — a major cranial nerve responsible for sensation and movement throughout the face, jaw, teeth, tongue, and head.

This powerful system processes touch, pain, temperature, and movement, and plays a vital role in how the jaw functions and how the brain interprets facial input. When irritated or overloaded, it can contribute to conditions such as TMJ disorder, chronic headaches, facial pain, ear symptoms, and trigeminal neuralgia.

🔍 Key functions of the trigeminal system:

Sensory input (Afferent):
Sends information such as pain, pressure, temperature, vibration, and joint position from the face, jaw, sinuses, eyes, oral cavity, and tongue directly to the brainstem.

Motor output (Efferent):
Controls the muscles of chewing, including the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids, as well as smaller muscles involved in jaw stability and ear function.

🧩 The three trigeminal branches:

• Ophthalmic (V1): Forehead, scalp, eyes, upper eyelid, nose
• Maxillary (V2): Cheeks, upper lip, upper teeth and gums, palate, sinuses
• Mandibular (V3): Lower jaw, chin, lower teeth and gums, tongue — and the muscles of mastication

🧠 Brain connection:

Sensory signals from the trigeminal nerve are processed in specialised trigeminal nuclei within the brainstem, creating a direct link between jaw mechanics, pain perception, and nervous system regulation.

⸻

✨ At Essex TMJ Holistic Solutions, we focus on calming and re-balancing this system through targeted, holistic TMJ therapy — addressing not just the jaw, but the nervous system behind the symptoms.

Because true recovery starts with understanding the connection between your jaw and your brain.

https://essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk. FacialPain HolisticHealing EssexTMJ

19/12/2025

✨ Gift Vouchers Now in Stock ✨

Looking for a thoughtful last-minute Christmas gift? 🎄
Give the gift of relaxation with one of my holistic treatment gift vouchers.

Perfect for family or friends who know how much you value your holistic treatments – and deserve some well-earned time to unwind themselves. 💆‍♀️💆‍♂️

🎁 Ideal Christmas present
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✨ A meaningful gift that supports wellbeing

Message me to purchase or for more details.

📍 Expert TMJ Therapy in Southend-on-Sea
📞 07740 987519
🌐 essextmjholisticsolutions.co.uk


MentalHealthMatters TraumaInformedCare
StressAndAnxiety NervousSystemRegulation
JawPain ChronicStress HolisticHealth
MindBodyConnection SomaticTherapy
SouthendOnSea EssexWellness HolisticEssex