Why You Grind Your Teeth: Nervous System Clues & Holistic Solutions

Ever wake up with your jaw clenched like you’ve been in a fistfight with your pillow? Or notice you’re grinding your teeth while driving or working on something stressful? That was me for years. My jaw was locked so tight it felt like it had a secret to keep—and no intention of letting it go.

If you’ve been told it’s just stress or you need a mouthguard, that’s only part of the story.

What if I told you that teeth grinding is your nervous system trying to help you survive?

Let’s break this down—what’s really going on, how this stress loop gets wired in, and how we can actually re-pattern it using tools like Craniosacral Therapy and Cognomovement.

Your Jaw is on the Front Lines

Your jaw is one of the most primal places your body holds tension. In fact, it’s often bracing before your brain even registers the stress. And while that might sound dramatic—it’s actually a nervous system feature, not a flaw.

This tension isn’t just “in your head.” It’s literally wired into your fight-or-flight system. And over time, that becomes a loop.

Think:

• Clenching while you’re working, reading, concentrating?

• Grinding at night, waking up sore or tight in your temples?

• Avoiding chewing gum because your jaw already feels like it’s been lifting weights?

These are nervous system patterns playing out in real time.

It’s More Than Stress. It’s a Pattern.

One of the things I’ve learned (the hard way) is that the body doesn’t just “get over” things. If your system doesn’t feel safe—physically, emotionally, or energetically—it keeps the motor running. Even in your sleep.

Bruxism isn’t random. It’s a loop built from:

• Stored survival stress

• Hypervigilance

• Overthinking or over-efforting

• And sometimes… unresolved emotional stuff from way back

Bessel van der Kolk said it best:

“The body responds to trauma by activating stress hormones and muscular tension. Without a way to discharge it, that tension stays locked in.”

In other words—if the body doesn’t know how to release it, your jaw is likely holding it for you.

Why the Jaw?

The jaw is connected to so many things: your brainstem, vagus nerve, digestion, even your voice and boundaries. And guess what? It’s one of the few places we clench without realizing it.

If your jaw has become your body’s stress outlet, here’s the good news:

You can teach it something new.

How We Rewire This Pattern

Craniosacral Therapy

This gentle, hands-on therapy helps unwind the deep fascia, tension, and stored patterns in the cranial bones, TMJ, neck, and spine. It’s subtle—but it’s powerful.

Clients often say things like: “I didn’t even know how tight I was until it released.”

Craniosacral supports your parasympathetic system—the rest and digest side. And that’s where healing happens.

Cognomovement

This one’s a game changer. Using specific eye positions, cross-body movement, and sensory input, Cognomovement helps your brain re-route old patterns of stress and body tension—like jaw clenching.

It’s like updating your nervous system software. We work directly with what your body is feeling (not just thinking), and we shift it from the inside out.

Sometimes people feel a change mid-session. More energy, better range of motion, and yes—jaw relaxation without even focusing on the jaw.

Physical Factors Matter, Too

Let’s not leave out the basics: mineral deficiencies (especially magnesium), poor sleep, alcohol, caffeine, inflammation, and dental structure can all add to the problem.

But I’ve seen enough to say this: you won’t grind your way out of bruxism with a mouthguard alone.

Until the nervous system feels safe, the jaw stays on high alert.

This is Your Body Asking for Help

Grinding your teeth isn’t just a bad habit. It’s a message.

Your jaw is doing its job—trying to keep you safe. But what if you could give it new instructions? What if you could train your body to relax by default instead of bracing?

That’s exactly what Craniosacral and Cognomovement can help you do.

Need help getting started?
Join us for the next Cognomovement class or explore my 30-Day Challenge designed to teach you exactly how to use these tools in your own life.

Ready to book a one-on-one? This is your link.