Bruxism, which is the medical term for chronic teeth grinding and clenching, is a common condition that affects many individuals, often without their knowledge. While it may seem harmless, over time, bruxism can lead to various dental damage and even impact one’s quality of life. That is why exploring effective treatment options is crucial.
In recent years, hypnosis in therapy has emerged as a promising approach to address the underlying causes of teeth grinding. By tapping into the power of the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy offers a unique opportunity to reprogram the behaviors and thought patterns associated with bruxism.
But how exactly does hypnotherapy work, and how can it help prevent teeth grinding? Join us as we explore this fascinating topic and discover the potential benefits of hypnotherapy in managing bruxism.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism refers to the condition where, as an unconscious habit, a person constantly grinds and clenches their teeth, along with tightening their jaws and even facial muscles. There is primary bruxism and secondary bruxism, with the first being a bruxism that appears by itself and only as a consequence of stress, anxiety, or bad habits. Secondary bruxism is one that results from other psychological or medical conditions.
Both of these types of bruxism can occur during sleep (sleep bruxism) or while awake (awake bruxism). It is a common problem that affects both children and adults.
Nocturnal Bruxism
Nocturnal bruxism is another term for teeth grinding at night or sleep bruxism and is a sleep disorder characterized by the involuntary clenching, grinding, or gnashing of teeth while sleeping at night. This form of bruxism affects a significant number of people and can lead to various dental complications, including tooth wear, jaw pain, and headaches.
Sleep bruxism is often associated with stress, anxiety, or an abnormal bite. While the exact cause is unclear, it is believed to be related to the unconscious mind and the body’s way of releasing tension during sleep, which is why hypnosis has emerged as a potential treatment for sleep bruxism, as it aims to induce a state of deep relaxation and access the unconscious level of the mind.
But we’ll expand on that topic later.
Awake Bruxism
It is important to also explore sleep bruxism’s counterpart, awake bruxism, which occurs while an individual is awake.
Awake bruxism refers to the habit of daytime teeth grinding or clenching during conscious periods. This condition can be caused by various factors, specifically stress, and anxiety, because it functions as a coping mechanism for certain situations in our daily lives. Other factors are misalignment of the teeth or even certain medications.
Awake bruxism can also lead to dental problems, such as tooth wear, jaw pain, headaches, and even temporomandibular joint disorders.
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
The exact cause or causes of this constant grinding and clenching are not fully understood. However, it is believed to be a combination of factors, including psychological, physical, and even genetic factors.
Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and tension are thought to play a role in the development of bruxism. There are also certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and the use of stimulants like caffeine, which can contribute to teeth grinding.
Teeth grinding is also associated with an abnormal bite, crooked or missing teeth, and sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea. It is important to identify and address the underlying causes of bruxism to effectively manage and prevent further damage.
Symptoms of Bruxism
One of the primary bruxism symptoms is the grinding or clenching of teeth, which often occurs during sleep and is usually loud enough to be heard by a sleeping partner. Other effects of bruxism may include jaw pain, tension headaches (morning headaches in the case of sleep bruxism,) tooth sensitivity, facial pain, and worn-down teeth.
Some individuals may also experience muscle tension or fatigue in the jaw, as well as difficulty opening or closing their mouth.
Worth noting that not all bruxism sufferers will experience the same symptoms, nor to the same level of severity. Many bruxism symptoms might not even appear at all until it’s too late.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to more severe dental problems, such as tooth fractures, loss of teeth, and temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) disorders.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that utilizes hypnosis to access the subconscious or unconscious mind and create positive changes in thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being. Through a relaxed state of focused attention, the hypnotherapist guides the individual through the power of suggestion to explore and address underlying issues, beliefs, and patterns, helping them to overcome challenges, release negative habits, and promote personal growth and healing.
This form of therapy can be effective in treating a variety of conditions, such as anxiety, phobias, teeth grinding, addiction, and chronic pain, by harnessing the power of the subconscious mind to facilitate positive transformation.
Stress and anxiety hide in our subconscious, and many times, we develop negative lifestyle habits as a way of coping with our daily lives. Hypnosis will help turn those habits into positive coping methods.
Here are three key aspects of hypnotherapy:
Accessing the Subconscious Mind
Hypnotherapy works by inducing a state of deep relaxation, allowing the mind to become more receptive to suggestive language (keywords tailored for each patient by the therapist.) This enables the therapist to reach the subconscious mind, where deep-seated patterns and behaviors reside.
Addressing the Root Cause of Psychological Conditions
Hypnotherapy aims to identify and address the underlying causes of the condition. By exploring the subconscious mind, the therapist can uncover any emotional or psychological factors contributing to several mental health issues or trauma in a patient’s life.
Promoting Positive Behavioral Changes
Through hypnosis, the therapist can help reprogram the mind and introduce new, healthier behaviors. Suggestions can be given to reduce stress, promote relaxation, or encourage a change in negative lifestyle habits, ultimately leading to more frequent healthy lifestyle choices.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help Prevent Teeth Grinding
Hypnotherapy has been found to be effective in preventing teeth grinding by addressing underlying anxiety and stress fed by our unconscious mind. It can come from workday stress, anxiety from the constant consumption of news, or personal problems on top of a busy life.
Whatever the root causes behind the stress or habits that lead to tooth grinding, hypnosis is gaining respect as a key part of any bruxism treatment plan. There have been several studies and experiments that confirm hypnosis for bruxism can be successful in cases where medication is not enough or there are no other medical conditions behind it, only stress or bad habits.
One study published in 2013 showed the author treating their client throughout seven sessions and successfully employing hypnotherapy treatment, along with “an exploration of tacit and initially denied hostility” in the client’s life. The grinding and clenching were gone and never returned.
Another famous study from 1991 showed how suggestive hypnotherapy was effective on eight subjects, who saw a “significant decrease in EMG activity” and a reduction of facial pain and muscle pain from bruxism. EMG refers to an electromyogram detector, a common way to measure muscle activity when trying to monitor teeth grinding on a patient. The patients in the study proved the successful long-term effects and how hypnosis for stress may be the best treatment in many teeth-grinding cases.
Hypnotherapy offers a holistic approach to managing teeth grinding by targeting the mind and behavior through two main avenues:
Through Anxiety and Stress Relief
By addressing the underlying causes of anxiety and stress, hypnotherapy offers a potential solution for preventing teeth grinding as a result of built-up stress and anxiety.
Hypnosis for bruxism helps individuals find relief from these conditions and teaches them relaxation techniques and positive suggestions, which can ultimately reduce teeth grinding, which in these cases is a coping mechanism for many.
Here are three ways in which hypnotherapy can help with anxiety and stress relief:
Identifying triggers
Through hypnotherapy, individuals can explore their subconscious mind and identify the root causes of their anxiety and stress. This process allows them to gain a deeper understanding of their triggers and develop strategies to manage them effectively. A case from 1991, for example, showed how a 55-year-old patient’s work situation triggered an earlier psychological conflict that reactivated their teeth grinding. The night guards employed to treat it were not enough and causing problems of their own.
After several hypnotherapy sessions, the man found relief from his bruxism behaviors and was able to sleep without the need for night guards.
Reframing negative thoughts
Hypnotherapy can help individuals reframe negative thoughts and replace them with more positive and empowering beliefs. By changing how they perceive and respond to stressful situations, they can reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Promoting relaxation
Hypnotherapy techniques, such as guided imagery and deep relaxation exercises, can induce a state of deep relaxation and calm. This can help individuals manage their stress levels and prevent teeth grinding.
Through these approaches, hypnotherapy can provide effective relief from anxiety and stress, ultimately preventing teeth grinding.
By Changing Unconscious Behaviors
After addressing the root causes of anxiety and stress, hypnotherapy has the potential to bring about a transformation in unconscious behaviors, effectively preventing teeth grinding. In this way, hypnotherapy is another form of behavioral therapy.
When someone grinds their teeth at night, it is often a manifestation of underlying stress and anxiety.
While antipsychotic medications or antidepressant medications may provide temporary relief, they do not address the root cause of the issue.
So, by working with a hypnotherapy client, the therapist can delve into the client’s unconscious mind to identify and change the unconscious behaviors that lead to teeth grinding, thus leading to a healthier lifestyle in their everyday routines. It helps create a counter to workday stress or chronic anxiety by reprogramming the mind.
Through various techniques, such as relaxation and visualization, hypnotherapy can help the client release stress and anxiety, which in turn improves sleep patterns and prevents teeth grinding and its adverse effects on their daily life.
Other Treatment for Bruxism Options
There are several alternatives to hypnotherapy as treatment options for addressing bruxism. These options can help individuals manage their symptoms and minimize the potential damage caused by bruxism, particularly as a way to alleviate the short-term effects of teeth grinding:
Some of the alternative treatment options include:
Dental devices
Dentists can provide custom-made mouthguards, night guards, or splints to protect the teeth from grinding. Mouth guards are for treating daytime bruxism, while night guards are for treating sleep bruxism, and both help reduce the impact of grinding and clenching.
They come in several types, like soft custom night guard, boil-and-bite night guards, custom-made night guards, etc.
Other stress management techniques
Since stress and anxiety can contribute to bruxism, learning stress management techniques such as relaxation exercises, meditation, and counseling can help individuals reduce their stress levels and alleviate the symptoms.
Physical therapy
Certain exercises and techniques performed by physical therapists can help relax the jaw muscles and relieve tension, reducing the likelihood of teeth grinding.
Don’t Limit Yourself When Treating Your Teeth Grinding
We’ve now learned that hypnotherapy can be an effective treatment option for preventing teeth grinding, also known as bruxism.
While any healthcare professional will recommend first proven and conventional treatment options, such as dental devices or medication, it is important to keep your mind open and knowledgeable about treatments like hypnotherapy, which seeks to resolve the root causes of stress or anxiety-linked teeth-grinding.
Consult your physician or healthcare provider about all the options available and the best for your oral health and overall health.
