Do you grind your teeth? Hypnotherapy can help

Bruxism affects between eight and 10 percent of the UK’s population and is characterised by teeth grinding and clenching of the jaw. There are two types of the condition – awake and sleep bruxism.

When you are awake, ‘awake bruxism’ consists of jaw clenching as a response to certain stimuli, rather than teeth grinding. Whereas when you are asleep, ‘sleep bruxism’ typically involves jaw muscle contractions and teeth grinding.

What are the effects of bruxism?

Although the effects will vary from person to person, there are a number of short and long-term effects:

Short-term:

• sleep disruption
• limits on how far you can open your mouth
• receding or inflamed gums
• headaches
• earache
• aching facial and jaw muscles.
• increased tooth mobility.

Long-term:

• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
• tooth breakage and wear.

How hypnotherapy can help

If you think you are suffering from bruxism, you should visit your GP or dentist. They will be able to discover what damage has been caused and you will also be able to discuss the different treatment options.

One option you could explore is hypnotherapy. The actions of jaw clenching and teeth grinding are unconscious, which is why hypnotherapy has been found to be so effective. A hypnotherapist can use the power of suggestion to change the patterns of thought that are linked with bruxism.

In a hypnotherapy session you are put into a deeply relaxed state. When you enter this state, your mind is more susceptible to repatterning and suggestion. Your hypnotherapist will use techniques to interrupt the thought patterns that are associated with bruxism. Then, by using suggestive language, your hypnotherapist will try to replace those patterns with something more beneficial.

With hypnotherapy, your thoughts can be reframed. So instead of anticipating a bad night’s sleep, you will look forward to getting a sound night’s sleep with a relaxed jaw instead.