As healthcare becomes more expensive, individuals have become more and more willing to use holistic medicine and to try alternative treatment plans.
One such treatment that has proven effective for many people suffering from bruxism is meditation. Want to know how meditation for bruxism works?
Read on to find out more!
Why Use Meditation for Bruxism?
One of the leading causes of bruxism is stress: whether you’re going to sleep in a stressed out state or working through your day while under immense personal and emotional pressure, ultimately the majority of bruxism sufferers can link their teeth grinding episodes to stress. Meditating helps many people naturally reduce stress, so it is a great choice for those looking to treat their bruxism without relying on medications or expensive treatment plans.
Meditation is also a great option for those who might be suffering from other health issues such as anxiety, hypertension, and even irritable bowel syndrome. With healthcare costs continuing to rise, and therefore adding stress to our daily lives in and of themselves, why not reduce the symptoms or even cure multiple issues at once by using one treatment plan?
How Meditation Works to Prevent Teeth Grinding
Daily stressors can build up and interfere with an individual’s sleep cycle, which can then lead to bruxism, or it can cause you to clench your teeth during the day. Meditation actively works to calm the mind, relax the body, and simply de-stress an individual all over. By reducing the stress in your everyday life, you can reduce the likelihood of bruxism and even stop teeth grinding altogether.
During your meditation practice, focus in on relaxing your entire face: start with your forehead and scalp, then move down through your nose and sinuses, cheeks, and finally along your mouth and jawline. As you go through each part of your face, work to relax the individual muscles: this can help relieve any headaches or jaw pain you may have after a bruxism episode, as well as help prevent your muscles from tensing involuntarily, thereby helping to preventing future teeth grinding.
Meditation can also help you focus in on certain habits and work to adjust or change those habits for the better – including your teeth grinding! After you relax your muscles, focus in specifically on your mouth and jaw. Remind yourself what it feels like to clench your jaw and then correct it, practicing this a few times to help your body recognize when it is starting to clench up. You will then become more aware of when you are apt to start grinding your teeth, and can therefore start to subconsciously correct it!
Can I Still Follow Other Treatment Plans While Meditating?
Absolutely! Meditation does work well when used on its own, but it’s also perfectly acceptable to continue using other treatments while you practice meditation. For instance, many people choose to still wear a mouth guard to help prevent any potential damage to the teeth should they still subconsciously grind them at night or during the day. Mouth guards and other treatments can serve as a backup treatment plan while you begin your meditation process or are still in the early stages of practicing meditation.
If you are new to meditation or are unsure of how to sharpen your focus and use meditation to your best advantage, contact a local holistic healthcare practitioner, or speak to your religious or spiritual advisor. Meditation is often practiced by the spiritual, as well as the health conscious, so you may be able to find some additional help where you don’t quite expect to! You may also want to practice with a friend to encourage support and to help keep you both accountable to a regular meditation schedule – practice makes perfect, after all!
There are several treatment options for dealing with bruxism and teeth grinding, with meditation being a great choice if you want to keep your healthcare costs down and stick with an all-natural treatment plan. Continue exploring the articles on this website to see even more options for treating your bruxism!
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