“Relax your jaw.” These were the wise words I was left with on a sticker inside a care package handed to me by Charlotte Mernier, founder and director of My Osteo London. French-born Mernier did a Masters in Osteopathy in Paris after discovering the practice at age 16 and realised she wanted to turn her fascination with anatomy and her love of working with her hands into a career.
Whilst many turn to osteopathy as a holistic way to sort out sore joints and niggly muscles, I was in her clinic in Marylebone for the signature treatment – the buccal massage. For over a decade, I’ve suffered from temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which is associated with jaw tension, pain, clicking, teeth grinding, and migraines. I’ve gone to a TMD specialist who created a specially-moulded splint that I wear at night to help with my teeth grinding, but only in recent years have I come across the concept of a buccal massage.
Mernier tells me that she’s always had an interest in the jaw due to suffering from jaw tension herself. She scoured the market and realised the only options were either painful intra-oral treatments or facials that didn’t get deep enough to target the jaw muscles. “So with the knowledge I learned through taking different courses, I created my signature buccal massage: A treatment that effectively helps people to relax their jaw, but is also so relaxing that you look forward to coming back,” she said.
My treatment with Mernier was unlike any other I have had, her clinic has a calm atmosphere and she takes the time to talk to you about your needs. Mernier has a real gift and wasn’t lying when she said she’s always been good with her hands – through rigorous tapping, kneading, and sculpting she’s able to release tension from different pressure points on my face. The sensation can only be described as feeling like a Theragun is being run all over your cheeks, forehead, and jaw line.
However, before anything gets too uncomfortable and you question why you booked yourself in in the first place, the aroma of essential oils sways in the air and Mernier’s hands shift to slow, rhythmic movements.
“To start the treatment I first work on the lymphatic system by activating the lymph nodes to enable the detoxification process and evacuation of excessive fluids in the face,” she explains. “Then I use a mix of osteopathy, lymphatic drainage, and sculptural face lifting techniques after applying a moist towel on the jaw muscles with relaxing essential oils.”
She says it’s all about stimulating blood flow, which helps with muscle relaxation. Mernier also puts on a pair of gloves and starts the intra-oral massage, which helps her work on the fascia or connective tissue. Her signature massage not only helps to relieve jaw tension and tension headaches, but also includes aesthetic benefits such as a decrease in puffiness, increased collagen production, and facial contouring.
Read on as I speak to Mernier about the challenges of running a business and her top tips for jaw relaxation.
Do you find that patients come to you for health/wellness, aesthetic reasons, or both?
As I now offer different types of treatments at the clinic, I do receive patients for both health and aesthetic reasons. But being an osteopath, people come primarily to relieve their tensions, pains, and feel like the best version of themselves.
What is the hardest part of running your own business?
I guess the hardest part is to know when to rest, disconnect, and take time for yourself. It’s always hard for me to be away from the clinic, mentally and physically. Also, there are a lot of things to do beside treating patients, so you end up multitasking.
What has your strategy been for acquiring new clients?
I have been an osteopath for over a decade now and word of mouth is definitely what works long-term. The key is to give your absolute best for every single patient.
What is your favourite thing to do to unwind?
I love having a post-gym sauna or I play tennis. Sports help me to clear my mind and switch my mood.
How common is TMD?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect one in every three people, but only less than 7% will seek treatment. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are most commonly reported in 20- to 50-year-olds. It affects both men and women, however women will seek treatment way more than men. Your jaw is responsible for thousands of movements per day, allowing you to talk, chew, eat, sing, kiss, and more. This is why this joint can suffer from a lot of tension.
Could you share some simple habits people can do daily to relax their jaw?
Firstly, I recommend that my patients check their buccal position by asking themselves this question several times a day: “Am I clenching my teeth?.” If the answer is yes, there should be no contact between your teeth. Then, put your tongue up in a clucking position, relax your jaw, neck and shoulders, then take a deep breath.
You can use an alarm or visual reminders – that’s why I created my ‘Relax Your Jaw’ stickers – the repetition will help you retrain your brain and stop clenching.
Some other tips include:
- Self-massage exercises practiced three to four times a week will help to limit the tensions in you jaw and face
- Avoid bad oral habits like chewing gum, biting your nails or the inside of your cheeks.
- Have good eating habits like chewing slowly on both sides or alternate sides, cutting your food into small pieces, avoid hard and crunchy food, and avoid prolonged mouth opening like when eating a burger or an apple.
- Check your sitting position and avoid having your head forward.
- Avoid sleeping on your front side.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Try to quit smoking and avoid caffeine/alcohol as those are stimulants of the muscle activity.
What are your business goals for 2024?
My goals are to keep growing the clinic and launch a new edition of my Arnica candle on my online shop. I’ve also been contacted a lot by people asking to learn my method, so launching training sessions is on my mind.
What do you love most about living in London?
I have been living in London for the past eight years and I am still in love with this city. I love the green spaces and how easily you can find a park in any neighbourhood. Nature gives me a sense of peace in the busyness of the city.
Factbox
Address: 25 Wimpole St, London W1G 8GL
Phone: 020 7965 7218
Website: myosteolondon.com
Instagram: instagram.com/myosteolondon
