Do you clench or grind your teeth? 

Has your dentist ever mentioned that you do?

How do you really know if you do?

People often hold tension in the jaw and neck. Although many things can contribute to this pain, like a history of a major head or neck injury, car accident, scoliosis, whiplash, sports injury, or concussion to name a few.

The way we hold our body, posture, and neck is extremely important. Misalignment in one area can create a domino effect down or up the entire body.

Body work like massage, chiropractic, and craniosacral therapies can have extremely positive effects.

Here are some telltale signs of clenching or grinding.

• Sore jaw/temples upon waking- Clenching and grinding takes muscle for force, so the overuse of masseter muscles creates soreness.

• Headaches due to jaw tension- A lot of times we’ll also see headaches in these patients because of the soreness and the tightness in these muscles.

• Chipped teeth & tooth wear patterns- You can also have teeth that are loose, cracked, breaking, fractured, and teeth that have abfractions. 

• Snoring/sleep apnea- It is considered a sleep-related movement disorder and those who suffer from bruxism are more likely to snore or experience sleep apnea. One of the main causes of snoring is the constriction of airflow.

• Tori, which are bony growths at the floor of your mouth. As the body puts pressure on the jaw, osteoblasts form, and more bone is produced in an attempt to support the area.

While TMJ issues are always symptoms of a root cause issue. Here are some great self-massage techniques to help alleviate tension in the jaw and neck until the causation is found.

Get in a comfortable position. Whether sitting in bed or a chair. Use your favorite carrier oil like coconut oil, and your favorite essential oil. A great one for relaxation is lavender. Frankincense is known to promote healing. Mix your oils in your hands and start deep meditative breathing with your eyes closed. In deeply through the nose, and out deeply through the nose. Repeat until you feel relaxation set in.

Start at the top of your head, and start palpating your way down. Palpating means touching gently while scanning for sore areas. When you find a sore spot, stop, and give that area some more attention. Some LOVE as I like to put it! Make your way down your temples, eyebrows, your large masseter jaw muscles, down your neck and lymph nodes, and even along your trap muscles.

This technique will alleviate tension in the neck and jaw, help you fall into a deeper sleep, and reset your jaw muscles to reduce bruxing.

To your health,

Jennifer Corrigan RDA

Dr. Kayleigh A. Short DMD, formerly of Integrative Dentistry in Seattle, is your top choice for holistic dental care available to the greater Seattle area, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Monroe, Snohomish, Duvall, Whidbey Island, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Everett, and surrounding areas. Washington State, nationwide, and worldwide we are available for telemedicine holistic dentistry consults. For the best in holistic dental and natural holistic facial aesthetic needs. We diagnose complex dental health cases, that other dentists turn away. Contact us today or schedule an appointment to discover how we can help optimize your oral health and support your wellness journey. ~Dr. Kayleigh Short and the WDC Team