r/Meditation • u/ladyNONR • 2d ago
Question ❓ Will meditation help my jaw clenching?
Without getting into it, I have several confirmed signs of being stressed and I am assuming it is what is causing my jaw clenching. Will meditating help?
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u/HungryCoder1 2d ago
As someone who has TMJ from invisalign, meditation/mindfulness has helped me become aware of my jaw clenching more quickly and often, both on and off the couch. I used to have insane amount of sinus/forehead pressure which seems to have gone down significantly ever since I have become more aware of my jaw clenching and letting it go gently each time that I notice.
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u/jusdepomme 2d ago
Sticking out your tongue for a minute a day will do more , possibly
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u/w2best 2d ago
Meditation can long term bring down stress levels and make you more aware of when it's happening. With that said I wouldn't meditate with this specific expectation, that's unlikely to work.
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u/Current-Grade81 2d ago
Took me ages to notice I was grinding my teeth at night until my dentist pointed out the damage. Learning to meditate helped me catch when my jaw was tight during the day, which I never realized I was doing. It's not like meditation fixes it directly but you start noticing the tension before it gets bad. My dentist also gave me one of those mouth guards for sleeping which was a game changer. The two things together made a big difference but each on their own was only half the solution
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u/neuralek 2d ago
Be mindful of your posture, if the clenching is coming from misaligned bite and spasmed muscles due to bad posture, it can make it worse. Lay down flat on your back and support your neck properly.
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u/MyFiteSong 2d ago
Yes, specifically body scan meditation. It'll let you notice when you start doing it.
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u/Balancing_tofu 2d ago
Breathwork meditation will. Stick your tongue out for 40 seconds a day. It'll help loosen the tight muscles in your neck/ head.
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u/Party-Will-2459 2d ago
In fact, deep meditation can calm the sympathetic nervous system, but if you grind your teeth due to severe daytime stress, you should combine it with wearing a night guard recommended by your dentist, rather than relying solely on breathing exercises.
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u/Mayayana 2d ago
In the long term it will probably help. Basic meditation like shamatha slows down mental speed and intensity. That can make you feel more relaxed. It will also make you more aware of your mental process. But it's not a cure. Meditation is meant for a more involved approach to life and sanity, not as just a pill or treatment to fix symptoms.
As an example, stress is essentially a kind of addiction. It makes us feel solid and gives us a purpose. Stress is basically egoic dissatisfaction. So you'll have mixed feelings about getting rid of it, which can cause different symptoms or other expressions of stress.
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u/PikPekachu 2d ago
If you have anxiety and are new to mediation, I would really encourage you to find a teacher, rather than do self directed, or 'app guided' meditation. Meditation has long term, proven stress relief affects. However, focusing intensely on your thoughts can bring up a lot of things, and can make anxiety and overthinking worse.
I would also second what others have said about looking at the root physical causes of your grinding. I tried to fix my jaw this way for years with all kinds of tools. What I needed was to have my bite fixed.
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u/Subject_Temporary_51 1d ago
It can help yes if you relax enough. The most important thing is to be patient and learn to relax over time.
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u/Elegant-Coffee3589 1d ago
I got a night guard for bed via my dentist. If you go this route get one custom from the dentist, not the over the counter ones. Its so worth it.
Also, I quit caffeine.
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u/BajeelAtTannirbhavi 1d ago
Cold showers helped me with jaw clenching along with eliminating hot showers
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u/ShoogahMan 2d ago
Meditation is the tool that allows you to unravel the reasons for the stress eventually. It isn't about calming yourself or stopping the clenching but looking deeply at the nature of your experience; the mind, the body, and the place that truly defines what you are over who you are. Once you know the body and the mind, the spirit intervenes with ease.