How to Help a Client With Teeth Clenching

What if you could stop teeth clenching for good?

Teeth clenching—it's one of those sneaky habits that can creep into your life without you even realizing it. Maybe it’s during a stressful workday or in the middle of the night, leaving you with sore jaws and a headache. The good news? There are powerful and effective ways to address clenching, and hypnosis can play a huge role in creating lasting change. Let’s dive into how you can tackle this issue for yourself or help clients do the same.

What’s Going On With Teeth Clenching?

First, let’s clear up some confusion. Teeth clenching isn’t the same as grinding (also called bruxism). Clenching is a sustained, unconscious tension in your jaw, while grinding involves movement that can actually wear down the enamel on your teeth. Both are frustrating, but clenching can be easier to address if you know the right tools.

Most of the time, clenching is linked to stress or emotional tension. It’s not just a habit—it’s your unconscious mind’s way of handling something it perceives as a problem. That’s why tackling the issue isn’t just about stopping the behavior; it’s about working with your unconscious mind to change the underlying patterns.

The First Step: Building Awareness

One of the most important parts of solving this issue is becoming aware of when it’s happening. Many people don’t realize they’re clenching their teeth until it becomes painful.

A great starting point is simply paying attention. Do you notice tension in your jaw during the day? If so, consciously release it. One helpful trick is to imagine a tiny drop of oil balanced between your tongue and the roof of your mouth. This visualization encourages your jaw to relax naturally.

For nighttime clenching, awareness can be trickier, but that’s where hypnosis comes in handy.

Relaxation Through Hypnosis

Hypnosis is an incredible tool for installing relaxation where tension used to live. Self-hypnosis, in particular, can work wonders for helping your unconscious release the habit of clenching.

When practicing self-hypnosis, focus on suggestions like:

• "I hold onto relaxation effortlessly."
• "When tension arises in my jaw, I immediately notice and let it go."

Positive phrasing is key here. Instead of focusing on not clenching, focus on holding onto relaxation. It’s a subtle but powerful shift that keeps your unconscious on track toward what you want rather than what you’re trying to avoid.

The Six-Step Tapping Method

If you’re looking for another approach, Mike’s 6-step tapping method is an excellent choice. This protocol works by combining physical tapping on specific points with mental reframing. It’s a streamlined version of techniques like EFT, enhanced with an extra “anxiety spot” for even better results.

Tapping has been used to address everything from chronic pain to emotional stress—and yes, even teeth grinding and clenching. By using this method alongside hypnosis, you can create a one-two punch for resolving the issue.

Click here to learn how used his 6-set tapping method to cure his fibromyalgia.

Direct Suggestion: A Classic That Works

Sometimes, Direct Suggestion in Hypnosis (DSiH) is all you need. When someone is in a deep trance, their unconscious mind is highly receptive to positive instructions. For example:

• "When your jaw starts to tense, your unconscious will instantly release that tension and bring in calm relaxation instead."

Direct suggestion works beautifully because it speaks directly to the part of the mind that controls these habits. It’s simple, effective, and has been used successfully for over a century. Again, remember to always phrase your suggestions in the positive.

Apposition of Opposites: Rewiring the Pattern

Here’s a fun and creative technique you can use: the apposition of opposites. This method uses physical movements to symbolize tension and relaxation.

Start by inducing catalepsy in your client’s hands. Catalepsy is a natural state where a part of the body, like the hands or arms, becomes temporarily rigid or suspended in motion, often feeling light or weightless. It’s not forced—it happens effortlessly when the unconscious mind is engaged.

With one hand rising to represent tension and the other lowering to symbolize relaxation, you create a powerful metaphor for change. As the client focuses on these movements, guide them to shift their mental focus so that relaxation becomes their new default state. This physical and emotional connection helps the unconscious mind install the new pattern seamlessly.

Digging Deeper: What’s Behind the Clenching?

Sometimes, clenching isn’t just a random habit—it’s tied to a deeper belief. For example, one of our students of the Mike Mandel Hypnosis Academy recently realized that letting go of jaw tension felt like losing their drive to get things done. They thought that tension was necessary to stay productive!

Once they became aware of this belief, it no longer made sense. They reframed the situation, realizing that relaxation didn’t mean losing motivation; it meant they could work more effectively without unnecessary strain.

How to Help Clients (or Yourself!)

If you’re a hypnotist, here’s how you can help your clients address clenching:

1. Raise awareness of when the clenching happens.
2. Guide them into hypnosis and install positive suggestions.
3. Use techniques like the six-step tapping method or apposition of opposites to deepen the change.
4. Help them explore and resolve any emotional or psychological triggers.
5. Teach self-hypnosis so they can continue reinforcing relaxation on their own.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to stop clenching; it’s to replace tension with relaxation. This approach not only resolves the immediate issue but also brings a sense of calm and well-being into your daily life.