How I Stopped Jaw-Clenching & Teeth-Grinding
I used to be a Bruxist (jaw-clenching teeth-grinder, who would wake up with terrible tension headaches and a sore mouth). If this is you, I FEEL YOUR PAIN (really… I do did) and please read on!
OK time to sound fancy and give my medical vocabulary…
Bruxism is when you unconsciously clench your jaw and grind your teeth either during the day or during sleep. It can cause headaches, earaches, a sore jaw, and damage to your teeth, tongue and inside of your cheeks.
[Do I sound like a doctor yet? A scientist?]
Bruxism can be caused by
- stress
- anxiety or depression
- too much caffeine or alcohol consumption (especially right before sleeping)
- certain drugs/prescriptions (ex. anti-depressants, cocaine)
- smoking cigarettes
- the misalignment of the upper and lower teeth
- having a sleep disorder (ex. sleep apnea)
- genetics
Doctors and dentists have yet to find a main “cause”.
Bruxism Remedies
Try a mouthguard.
First let’s start with the most common answer that came up in my research. Unfortunately for me… it made the situation worse because my brain was so worried about swallowing my mouthguard that I clenched it in my mouth all night… ouch! I did continue to use it… hoping I would “get used to it”. But NO. This is an effective treatment for some people [while it wasn’t for me]. Your dentist can provide custom mouth guards.
Use your tongue.
[ahaha this is not a french kissing tutorial!] This works if you have Bruxism during the day. When you notice it happening, help the jaw relax by placing your tongue out of your mouth between the upper and lower teeth. Hold your tongue out of your mouth for a few minutes and repeat if needed.
Manage stress.
While this may seem unrealistic in your chaotic daily life… know that you are not the only one. Be realistic about the expectations you make for yourself and learn to say “NO” to an abundance of extra tasks. Also try to do something that makes you feel relaxed or happy before bed [take a warm bath, watch a funny show, etc.] It’s called self-care and you need it!
Use a warm compress.
Soak a cloth in warm/hot water or use a heated rice/flaxseed bag to hold against the jaw. It will help to soothe the pain in the mornings.
Try oil pulling.
Oil pulling involves swishing a natural oil around the mouth for 20 minutes. This can help to strengthen jaw muscles and also has other great health benefits.
Indulge in Lavender EO (Young Living or Plant Therapy).
Finally the most effective treatment in stopping my jaw clenching and teeth grinding! I started using 2 drops of lavender oil on my face at night with high hopes of beautiful skin. An amazing accident happened because it stopped my bruxism! Not knowing at first what had caused this miracle… I was a bit confused… until one night I fell asleep before I applied lavender EO and woke up a Bruxist. After much research, I found that lavender helps the mouth and jaw relax at night and calms anxiety and stress. Ever since that day, I have used 2 drops of lavender essential oil rubbed all over my face and jaw at night… and have retired from being a sad Bruxist.
Since I use the OCM (Oil Cleansing Method), I already have a carrier oil on my face when I apply the lavender essential oil. If you do not use the OCM, please dilute your 2 drops of lavender essential oil in a few drops of a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, and jojoba oil.
{I use and recommend Young Living Essential Oils and Plant Therapy Essential Oils because they are 100% pure quality essential oils. There are other reputable essential oil companies to purchase from. Your local drug store’s cheap essential oil can give you a rash and not have the same positive effects because most only contain about 10% of the pure oil and the rest is filled with synthetics. Do your research and find a company you feel comfortable purchasing from.}
Happy Bruxism Retirement 🙂
Are you a Bruxist? Do you clench your jaw or grind your teeth at night? What remedies have you tried?
28 Responses
Hey thanks for this awesome tip! How long did it take for the lavender to work?
For me, I noticed a more significant change about 1-2 weeks after I started using it. Good luck on your healing journey!
I also find my mouthguard gives me more pain (which makes me think I’m grinding MORE with it, rather than less!). I’m scared to not wear it though, as I recognise it’s protecting my teeth from damage if I DO clench at night. Did you try the lavender whilst also wearing the mouth guard, or get rid of it all together? Thanks so much for your post! I feel less alone and more positive about finding a way to improve this horrible condition!! 🙂
I found the same thing with my mouthguard. I would clench more because I felt like I had to hold it in my mouth and not swallow it. I stopped wearing it and only used the lavender. I hope it works out for you! <3
Mouth guards make my mouth hurt even more! I used to diffuse lavender at night, but then my diffuser broke. It was after it broke that I started clenching my jaw at night. I’ll have to try the lavender again!
Yes mouth guards are definitely not for everyone! Get back on the lavender for sure!
Magnesium citrate supplementing took all my pain away, and bruxism. No more oral gel, sensydne, Clove essential oil and 800mg daily Advil.
I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who can’t deal with a mouth guard. I get so bothered by it during the night that I spit it out and always find it in my bed in the morning …! ? I’m going to try the lavender tonight. Finger crossed!!
I thought the mouth guard thing was just me, as it works for a lot of people! Hope the lavender helps 🙂
I am just wondering if anyone else has experienced gum receeding and also neck pain from clenching and grinding also?? One side of my neck is so painful.
I have not experienced gum receding, but I have experienced neck/head pain. It would often feel really stiff and strained, and would lead up to a migraine. Hope you find relief!
Gum receeding can be caused by bruxism. I had it and my dentist said it was because I was clenching.
Yes, this is true for me as well.
Yes, behind my left ear, base of skull and headaches daily.
My bottom teeth and gums just ache from grinding..can you put the oil right on the gums
Brenda
You have to be cautious when using essential oils inside your mouth, because they absorb differently than on the skin. Lavender oil is pretty safe. I would recommend applying it to your jawline, right where you feel the pain. If you so choose to apply right to the gums, I would dilute the lavender oil with a carrier oil (ex. coconut oil).
Hi Sara! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have a habit of cracking my jaw throughout the day, and eventually it can get really achy and painful. I’m going to try the lavender. Have you found it’s helped your skin as well?
I really love the lavender. You can also massage it on for an added bonus! It has improved my bruxism and my skin. Let me know how it goes!
I clench so hard that I have broken 3 teeth, 2 were crowns. I have a mouth guard made by my dentist and broke a tooth last night ;( I’m going to try the lavender
I’m sorry to hear about the teeth that got broken. I would recommend the lavender for sure! Also, look at your lifestyle for major stressors or try to identify the root cause of why you are clenching to help reduce the severity.
Bruxism can also be a symptom of a deficiency in vitamin B6 & B12. These should be taken in the morning and around noon, but not after mid-afternoon. They are calming, strengthening and grounding for the entire nervous system. However, B6 can also be stimulating for the brain! I found out about that after forgetting to take it during the day, so I took it at dinner. At 3 a.m. I was still lying in bed, thinking the most profound thoughts of my life! Seriously, take them morning & noon but no later than mid-afternoon. My body prefers 500mg of B6 and 12mcg of B12 to function optimally and eliminate the symptoms of bruxism. Using essential oils beautifully soothes the tension in the jaws, but even the best essential oils cannot substitute for a vitamin deficiency.
This is very interesting. I have read articles that speak of vitamin C or vitamin B5 deficiencies, but not vitamins B6 or B12. I will further research these! Lavender essential oil helps with many other reasons that people have bruxism (it is more often stress and lifestyle related). Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much. I have a mouth guard and I feel like I clench even harder. I will try the lavender. Does it even help throughout the day?
Yes! It should help throughout the day. My jaw clenching only happened at night, but I imagine it would work at any time of day. Hope it works for you!
Holy frick thank you! I clench like crazy and while I do wear a mouth guard I nee more help. I’ll give this a go!
You are so welcome! I remember the pain, and get it sometimes when I forget to apply lavender essential oil. Hope it helps!
Thank you for the tips! I wasn’t just notified that I grind my teeth (or clench them causing my teeth to get cracks wahhhh) I’ve got the mouth guard but I’ll definitely try the lavender!
Is the mouth guard working well for you? It seems to work for some but not all and not for me :(. I hope the lavender essential oil helps! I was lucky not to have any teeth crack *crosses fingers it won’t happen*.