Teeth Clenching/grinding & Bowen Technique

My dentist said that people have shattered their teeth doing this. He said to 'be here now.' The past is gone and the future doesn't exist. He said to sit in a chair and just be there. Listen to the sound of the clock ticking, or the traffic. If you stop hearing it, then you are not here any more, come back. He said that some people get guards, but it is better to stop the clenching. He also said not to chew gum, it will wear out your mandible.

I have found that since I got a crown on one of my teeth, it wakes me up when I grind, I guess because of the different material. I haven't been grinding. I still clench during the day though.

I know this sounds different but it really works if you can find one. Have you ever heard of a cranial sacral message therapist. Hard to find but I tell you it works like a charm. I had lots of head and neck problems with jaw problems and this fixed me up. A regular message therapist I don't think can do it but a specialist message therapist that is a cranial sacral massage therapist can. go to http://massagetherapists.healthprofs.com/cam/prof_search.php to find one

N.

I hate to say it, but usually, when getting headaches and moving to WA coincide...there are usually 2 culprits:

1) Sinus infections from all the molds in the air (we have more molds then all but 2 of the rain forests in the world)

2) The huge amount of flat light...aka all the white light from the white sky from the grey and white clouds which only gets made worse when it rains, because then all the light reflects up from the streets.

The light is easy to fix with sunglasses... although since we so rarely have SUN & blue skies, you may feel silly wearing them, or just plain forget.

The sinus infections are a LOT harder to deal with. The kind of mold inspired sinus infections we all get, tend to not be the drippy kind...and tend to NOT be the screaming-meemee-omigod-if-i-bend-over-my-head-will-explode kind...just this constant aching pressure. If you're like me, and your physiology means that that pressure transfers to your facial or trigeminal nerve...it will cause your shoulders and neck to get tighter and tighter, and then impinge on of of the ganglia in your spine, and then cause migraines. <grinning> I'm actually one of several people I know of that massage keeps most migraines from happening, but that if I start feeling one coming on I can kick it's butt by taking a pseudoephidrine instead of the big-guns that migraines usually require. (Sudefed from behind the Rx counter, not Sudefed PE)

Of course, grinding your teeth falls right into making that whole situation worse, because that messes with the same nerves that sinus infections mess with.

So try some sunglasses, worn religiously for a week... and either a decongestant or a trip to the doctor to. If you try the decongestant... it's not like having a cold. One dose or half a dose usually relieves the pressure well enough for your immune system to be able to work more effectively on the infection. Sometime you might have to 1/2 dose or dose once a day for a few days... but in my experience, and in talking with others... that usually takes care of it for the month. And then the mold reasserts itself and you have to start over.

Best of Luck,
headaches are miserable

Hi Nicole,

I have used Bowen work for other things and I am absolutely amazed by how gently and effective it is. The idea is that your body heals itself.

I would say it is definitely worth a try.

A good practitioner in the Seattle area is Danielle Porter ###-###-#### or ____@____.com Crunick

Hi Nicole,

I happened to glance at this tonight and thought I would respond. The Bowen technique is a very good technique and quite gentle. All that said, teeth grinding can be quite complicated and the relationship between the teeth/TMJ (jaw), upper cervical spine and ears is very closely related neurologically. Oh, I should explain I am a holistic physical therapist trained in orthopedic manual therapy with 16 years of clinical experience (just so you don't think I am some stranger offering odd advice). I also have had teeth grinding, upper cervical and TMJ issues myself. So back to the grinding...and relationship. The muscles of the jaw and the receptors of the TMJ have innervation that also goes to the upper cervical spine and causes these circular relationships. My feeling is addressing not only the mechanics but also the integration of components is critical. For example a mouth guard made for you while you sleep can help. Also gentle joint mobilization to inhibit tone and improve circulation can be assistive if done properly. This includes the c-spine, and jaw. I also am a believer of helping tissue repair and remodel and what i mean by that is if movement is prescribed specifically for the upper cervical muscles, and jaw that allows for circulation and endurance w/o any pain the skeletal tissue will actually remodel to support the mechanics of the c-spine and jaw and ultimately reduce headaches. It should be precise and pain free. It is tricky to explain via e-mail but there is a lot of hope and possibilities. Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions. Also while it is only a splash page you can go to my site for my number if you wish to reach me directly. i work with a lot of dentists and can offer a referral to an appropriate provider should you desire that. Good luck! K. Barnes MOMT, MPT.< href="http://www.corehealingpt.com&quot;&gt;www.corehealingpt.c...;

Hopefully the link comes through directly.

Hello Nicole,

I also have bruxism and TMJ-disorder and what helped me was a custom made (dentist) plastic guard and learning relaxation techniques. I actually learned this in preparation for giving birth, to consciously relax my facial and jaw muscles and have since practiced it during the day (even at work, a few times a few for a few minutes). I am no longer using the guard and my TMJ problems have lessened dramatically!
Good luck!

Hi!
I am not familiar with the Bowen technique but do have an idea. You might want to get checked for sleep apnea. Teeth grinding/clenching can be a symptom of it. If you go to a sleep clinic, you can stay overnite and they can tell if you are clenching because of it or not. I have sleep apnea and have a mouth guard on both the top and bottom teeth to prevent my jaw from falling open when I am asleep. I still clench but not as bad now.

Good luck on your quest to find a solution!

Never tried bowen, but I have TMJ and have found that when I start to get the constant headache from grinding etc., ibuprofen is my only real option. Tried lots of other things, but that is the only thing that works for me. I also found that changing jobs and increasing my exervise changed my stress level so now I rarely clench anymore. Occasionally, but if it's during the day, I just make a conscience point to relax and get my jaw doing something else.

I would recommend using techniques to help you relax, but I think the first step should be to understand that exposure to the radiation from cell phones, computers, WiFi etc. is often manifested as a headache first and is a stressor unrecognized by many people. . Electro pollution is the most serious toxin we face in the 21st century according to Dr. Andrew Weil and many physicians and researchers around the globe. You can check this website http://protectkidsfrom.emf411..com to access information about the issue and the science and the solutions. Good luck to you.

I've done it for muscular pain and it is amazing! I would definetely give it a try!