Hypnosis for Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the medical term given to a condition where patients clench or grind their teeth when awake or asleep. It can irreversibly damage your teeth and lead to headaches and temporomandibular joint pain. Stress and anger often play a role in bruxism, so when treating it using hypnotherapy, relaxation techniques are used alongside direct suggestions.

THE EVIDENCE?
Many dentists now recommend hypnotherapy as a way of stopping bruxism. Research conducted in 2003 at the Glasgow Dental Hospital Hypnosis Unit reported a success rate of 71% in treating bruxism with hypnosis in an average of six sessions.

An article published in The Independent in January 2007 stated that '[h]ypnotherapy is increasingly being used in a number of areas of dentistry, including dental phobia, teeth-grinding and extractions and fillings.'

TESTIMONIAL
'Bruxism is a horrible cycle - you're stressed so you clench your teeth, and that stresses you even more. Hypnotherapy really helped me to confront the things that make me stressed, and made me focus on what is and isn't important in my life. By continuing with the programme of self-hypnosis Lisa Jackson suggested, my bruxism eventually became much less of a problem. Last week, I had two job interviews and a deadline for a project (I'm doing the final year of my degree) - all in one day. Whereas I'd have clenched my teeth for a week before such a stressful situation, I was surprised to find I didn't clench for a single night beforehand!'
CW, Surrey

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