Buccal massage: what it is and its benefits
Nowadays, you hear a lot the words “Buccal massage”, but you might be wondering what that is. For that reason, in this blog, I would like to answer the most common questions people have about it. I can start telling you it is not a new trend; in fact, it has been used for many years as part of the treatment of different types of facial medical conditions like temporomandibular jaw disorders, bruxism or some neurological condition that cause paralysis of some muscles of the face). Let´s go deeper…
What is buccal massage?
A buccal massage, also called inner facial or intraoral massage is a type of treatment targeting the muscles of the face but from the inside of the mouth. Trained therapists perform it. They can be beauty therapists as well as musculoskeletal specialists such as physiotherapists or osteopaths.
Buccal massages are not a new trend and have been used for many years to help treat many different medical conditions. It derives from a type of treatment called myofascial release. The fascial system is a layer of connective tissue that attaches your muscles to your skin and the rest of your body. It is found all over the body. When muscles get tight they can pull on this fascia layer and cause tension in nearby areas. Myofascial release aims to release this layer and the surrounding muscles to ease tension. Buccal massage works similarly as it targets the fascia and muscles inside your mouth.
What is the purpose of buccal massage?
Similarly to myofascial treatment, a buccal massage aims to relax the facial and oral muscles. The head and neck alone contain 68 muscles and many of them attach and blend and cross near and around the mouth, jaw and the back of the throat. Doing the massage on the inside of the mouth helps access some muscles of the jaw and mouth that you can’t get to or touch from the outside.
Usually used for medical purposes, a buccal massage can help treat conditions such as temporomandibular jaw disorders (jaw pain, clicking or locking), bruxism (teeth grinding) or even Bell’s palsy (neurological condition causing a paralysis of some muscles of the face).
Is a buccal massage the same as a facial massage?
A buccal massage is actually very different from a facial massage or even a facial sculpting massage. The buccal massage can be used for medical purposes and addresses the fascia and muscles of the head, neck and mouth as well as the lymphatic system which is your body’s immune system.
A facial massage is usually a relaxing treatment done by beauticians usually after having applied skincare products. It helps smooth out the skin and promote circulation and absorption of the products applied.
A facial sculpting massage is also done by beauty therapists and is used to improve the circulation and drainage around the face. Some people find their face looks more sculpted and less puffy after treatment.
What are the benefits of a buccal facial?
A buccal massage is usually used to treat conditions such as headaches, temporomandibular joint disorders or teeth grinding. It can also be used for puffiness, water retention or sinus drainage issues. The massage is performed inside the mouth and helps relieve muscle tension and increase drainage around the head and neck.
The benefits of a buccal massage include some reduction in muscle tension, reduction in headaches or migraines or jaw pain, less puffiness of the face and a stimulation of your lymphatic system.
Does buccal face massage work?
You may have also heard of buccal massage over magazines or social media as many celebrities are also adding this to their beauty routine. Many people find that after a few sessions of buccal or intraoral massage their face looks less puffy, the jaw and cheeks more defined and sculpted and even sometimes the wrinkles look less visible.
It is always recommended that for better results a series of a few sessions will bring you more benefits. Your therapist will be able to advise you on the best course of action depending on your needs and goals. If you are planning on getting a buccal massage for issues like jaw pain, teeth grinding or clenching or for muscle tension, it is likely your therapist will recommend a few sessions to also address the muscles on your face and neck as they will likely contribute to the symptoms.
For optimal results after sessions of buccal massage, the professional might also give you some lifestyle advice to help prevent those issues and pain or even to amplify the results. Those can range from dietary advice to jaw and neck exercises.
We hope this information is useful for you. If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington. We are always happy to help. If you like this blog, please share!
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3242647/
