Hypnotherapy for Bruxism

Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding and/or clenching of the jaw. Most people will grind their teeth to a degree, without any symptoms or complications. When the grinding becomes persistent however, it can lead to dental damage, headaches and earache.

The teeth grinding action that occurs with bruxism is generally an unconscious habit. This is why hypnotherapy for bruxism can be effective, as it is a therapy that works on the unconscious aspects of our thinking as well as dealing with stress and anxiety that are so often linked to Bruxism.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism affects around 7-11% of the population and is characterised by jaw clenching and/or teeth grinding and can lead to dental damage as well as jaw problems. Bruxism normally occurs when you are either fully awake, or alternatively when you sleep

Awake Bruxism:  Usually there is no teeth grinding, just jaw clenching in response to certain stimuli.

Sleep Bruxism: Generally involves both grinding and jaw muscle contractions during your sleep

Psychological problems such as stress and anxiety are known to exacerbate teeth grinding during sleep. The condition has also been linked to sleep disorders as it tends to occur during periods of wakefulness.

The Impacts of Bruxism

The effects of bruxism will vary from person to person depending on the severity of the problem. There are long and short-term effects. These include:

Short-term effects:

• earache
• headaches
• facial myalgia (aching jaw and facial muscles)
• sleep disruption
• limitation of mouth opening
• inflamed/receding gums
• excess tooth mobility

Long-term effects:

• tooth wear and breakage
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) – Jaw problems

Hypnotherapy for Bruxism

If you suspect you are suffering from bruxism, a visit to your dentist or doctor is advised. They will be able to see if the grinding/clenching has caused any damage to your teeth. They will also discuss some possible treatment options.

As part of your treatment plan, you may want to explore hypnotherapy for bruxism. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching happen unconsciously, whether you’re awake or asleep. As the action is controlled by your unconscious, hypnotherapy (a therapy that works with the unconscious mind) can use the power of suggestion to help change thought patterns that lead to bruxism.

Hypnosis puts you into a deeply relaxed state. When you are in this state, your unconscious is open to suggestion and re-patterning. Using hypnotherapy techniques, the thought patterns that lead to teeth grinding can be interrupted. Then, using suggestive language, your hypnotherapist can encourage new (more beneficial) thought patterns.

Around 70% of sleep bruxism cases are believed to be stress-related. Anxiety is also commonly associated with the condition. These are both issues that can be addressed through hypnotherapy.

When looking at stress and anxiety, hypnotherapy can help you get to the root cause. It also supports the development of more positive coping methods, so that your mind reacts better in stressful situations. As teeth grinding can often be a reaction to stress and anxiety, using hypnosis for stress may reduce bruxism as a result.