Bruxism and TMJ Disorders
What is Bruxism and TMD?
Several Healing Touch clients have presented with pain associated with Nocturnal Bruxism (teeth grinding while sleeping) and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). You may have tooth pain, jaw pain, ear pain, and/or a headache. Since you are sleeping you may not be aware that you are grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. My best recommendation is for you to see your dentist. Your dentist will be able to see signs of teeth grinding and/or malocclusion (a misaligned bite). Your dentist can order a mouth guard or Invisilign which can adjust the misalignment and protect the teeth.
What can I do to reduce the pain?
Healing Touch Session
Self Mind Clearing Technique (here on my website under Self-Care)
Meditation and Yoga exercises for the Jaw (here on my website under Yoga for Jaw)
Attune to your emotional and mental needs. Are you anxious and/or under stress? Do you have any unresolved anger? Try Cognitive Behavior Therapy like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or tapping). I like to suggest Nick Ortner’s book: The Tapping Solution. Please contact me with any questions about EFT.
According to Dr. Steven Lin,DDS on MindBodyGreen.com, “Teeth grinding is a sign that you’re not breathing the right way during sleep…namely, UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome).” He has the following recommendations to strengthen your airway muscles:
Good posture will create resting head and neck alignment that promotes proper breathing and delivers a maximum amount of oxygen.
Rest your tongue against the roof of the mouth or palate. Training your tongue for this is simple: Hold your tongue firmly behind the front teeth. Now push the back of your tongue to the roof of the mouth. Your neck should feel strained or tired. This is good! You’re exercising the muscles that hold the airways open. Do this for one minute and aim to increase to three-minute exercises daily.
Breathe through your nose. To correct your breathing, start by reprogramming yourself to breathe through your nose.
Try practicing the following diaphragmatic breathing exercise for three minutes per day. Here's what to do: Holding your tongue firmly against the palate, sit with a straight back and your mouth closed. Put one hand over your belly, and relax your shoulders, jaw, and neck. Breathe in for three seconds, letting your belly expand (you should feel your hand being pushed forward by the expansion). Release the air out slowly through your nose (four seconds). Your hand should move back toward you. When it does, inhale again. Repeat the cycle 20 times (three seconds in, four seconds out).
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/is-this-bizarre-habit-making-you-tired-all-the-tim