During the day, you can consciously relax your jaw, but at night, subconscious stress takes over. This leads to involuntary clenching and grinding (bruxism), which overloads the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The result is often waking up with a sore jaw, headaches, and facial tension.
Acupuncture helps to release the deep-seated tension in the masseter and temporalis muscles. By targeting specific trigger points, it sends a signal to the nervous system to "let go" of the chronic muscle guarding. This reduces the intensity of night-time clenching and allows the jaw muscles to rest and recover.
A home visit for acupuncture is particularly effective for night-time grinders. The treatment helps shift your nervous system from a stressed "fight or flight" state to a relaxed "rest and digest" state. Receiving this treatment in your own home, close to bedtime, means you can carry that deep relaxation directly into your sleep, promoting a more restorative and less tense night.
While acupuncture is excellent for muscle tension and nervous system regulation, a dental splint or night guard is often necessary to protect your teeth from the physical damage of grinding. The best approach combines both: the splint protects your teeth, while acupuncture addresses the root cause of the muscle overactivity, providing a comprehensive solution for TMJ dysfunction.
If night-time jaw clenching is disrupting your sleep and causing you pain, consider a home acupuncture session to calm your system and release tension.
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