If you’ve ever caught yourself clenching your jaw while driving, working at your desk, or even during sleep, you’re not alone. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding (aka bruxism) are more common than people realize—especially in a city like Vancouver where stress runs high. Studies estimate that nearly 20% of adults engage in awake bruxism, often as a response to daily stress and anxiety [1].

As a sports acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, I see a ton of clients dealing with jaw tension, headaches, and neck pain linked to clenching. Many of them feel like they’ve "tried everything" without getting to the root cause.

So let’s talk about what actually helps jaw clenching long-term, and how acupuncture can play a powerful role in easing tension and pain.

Why Do We Clench Our Jaws Anyway?

Most people don’t realize they’re clenching until they start waking up with sore teeth, a stiff jaw, or tension headaches. Often, it’s stress and anxiety driving this pattern—your body’s way of "bracing" under pressure [1].

There are two main types of jaw clenching:

Awake bruxism: Clenching while you're awake, often tied to stress or deep concentration [1].
Sleep bruxism: Grinding or clenching at night, often linked to sleep disturbances like obstructive sleep apnea, which can worsen jaw tension over time [2].

If any of this sounds like you, keep reading—because there are real solutions.

Can Acupuncture Really Help with Jaw Clenching?

Short answer? Yes, absolutely—and science backs this up.

I've worked with many Vancouver clients who finally found relief through acupuncture when nothing else worked. Here’s how it helps:

Releases tight muscles: Acupuncture targets overactive jaw muscles (like the masseter) and related neck muscles, helping them relax [3].
Reduces pain and inflammation: Think of it as flipping the "off" switch on your body’s pain signals [3].
Calms the nervous system: Since stress is a big driver of clenching, acupuncture helps dial down that "fight or flight" response.

Research supports this—multiple clinical trials show that acupuncture reduces jaw pain, improves mobility, and provides lasting relief up to 8 weeks post-treatment [3][4].

What Else Can You Do to Stop Clenching?

Acupuncture is a necessary modality throughout your recovery process, and a multi-pronged approach may help to further speed up your progress even more. Here are a few other tools I recommend to clients:

1. Stress Management

Mindfulness, meditation, and Craniosacral therapy can help ease tension.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a powerful tool for addressing the underlying anxiety and stress that drive clenching [1].

2. Posture and Movement

Did you know your jaw and neck muscles are neurologically connected? Poor posture (hello, desk workers!) can make clenching worse [5].
Physical therapy and postural exercises help rebalance these muscles and reduce tension [5].

3. Exercise for Stress Relief

Studies show that both resistance and endurance training (like lifting weights or running) improve your body’s ability to handle stress [7].
Plus, structured strength training helps undo the damage of sitting all day.
(P.S. If you're not sure where to start with strength training, I offer programs specifically designed to build strength and improve stress resilience—check out my Muscle Mastery Series!)

4. Better Sleep

If you’re grinding at night, improving sleep quality is crucial.
Good sleep hygiene and screening for sleep apnea (often missed) can make a big difference [2].

5. Self-Care and Awareness

Simple techniques like jaw stretches, gentle massage, and eating soft foods during flare-ups can help [6].
Learning to recognize when you’re clenching is half the battle [6].

What to Expect if You Book Acupuncture for Jaw Clenching in Vancouver

If you’re considering acupuncture, here’s what a typical treatment plan looks like when working with me:

Targeted needling to release jaw and neck muscles—especially key points like the masseter and temporalis [3].
Cupping Therapy & Myofascial Scraping (Gua Sha) to improve the quality of the tissue and improve circulation.
Exercise guidance to help prevent clenching from coming back—based on what’s driving the tension (whether that’s posture, stress, or both).
Lifestyle coaching on stress management, sleep quality, and nutrition to support your healing.

Most people start noticing improvements in jaw tension and pain within four to six treatments [4], especially when combining acupuncture with cupping, scraping, stress-reducing practices and movement.

Of course, everyone’s timeline is different. If you’ve been clenching for years or dealing with chronic TMJ issues, we might need more sessions to fully unwind those patterns—but even then, relief often comes sooner than people expect.

And no, you don’t have to start an exercise program alongside acupuncture, but I’ll be honest—adding strength training and movement makes a huge difference for lasting results. It’s like treating the root cause and giving your body the tools to hold onto that progress. Plus, since stress is often behind clenching, exercise is one of the best ways to reset your nervous system [7].

If you’re outside Vancouver, I always encourage people to look for a licensed acupuncturist trained in musculoskeletal issues or sports acupuncture, so you can get similar care wherever you are.

Ready to Stop Clenching for Good?

If jaw clenching is holding you back—whether it's headaches, sore teeth, or tight neck muscles—there are real, lasting solutions. Acupuncture is one of my favourite tools because it gets right to the source of the problem.

If you're in Vancouver and want to work with me, reach out to book an initial session. Let's get you back to feeling good.

Meet Gavin Larsen

Gavin is a Registered Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner specializing in sports acupuncture and musculoskeletal health. With expertise in jaw tension, mobility, and pain relief, he helps clients address chronic clenching, TMJ issues, and posture-related discomfort. Using techniques like orthopedic acupuncture, cupping, and gua sha, Gavin combines targeted treatments with movement and lifestyle strategies to create lasting results.

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References

[1] Lavigne GJ, Khoury S, Abe S, Yamaguchi T, Raphael K. Bruxism physiology and pathology: an overview for clinicians. 2008 Jul;35(7):476-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2842.2008.01881.x. PubMed

[2] Kostrzewa-Janicka J, Jurkowski P, Zycinska K, Przybyłowska D, Mierzwińska-Nastalska E. Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders and Bruxism. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015:873:9-14. doi: 10.1007/5584_2015_151. PubMed

[3] Smith P, Mosscrop D, Davies S, Sloan P, Al-Ani Z. The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular joint myofascial pain: a randomised controlled trial. J Dent. 2007 Mar;35(3):259-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2006.09.004. PubMed

[4] Liu L, Chen Q, Lyu T, Zhao L, Miao Q, Liu Y, Nie L, Fu F, Li S, Zeng C, Zhang Y, Peng P, Wang W, Lin Y, Li B. Effect of acupuncture for temporomandibular disorders: a randomized clinical trial. QJM. 2024 Sep 1;117(9):647-656. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcae094. PubMed

[5] Giannakopoulos NNK, Hellmann D, Schmitter M, Krüger B, Hauser T, Schindler HJ. Neuromuscular interaction of jaw and neck muscles during jaw clenching. J Orofac Pain. 2013 Winter;27(1):61-71. doi: 10.11607/jop.915. PubMed

[6] Maini K, Dua A. Temporomandibular Syndrome. Augusta University; Updated January 30, 2023. NCBI Bookshelf

[7] Chovanec L, Gröpel P. Effects of 8‑week endurance and resistance training programmes on cardiovascular stress responses, life stress and coping. J Sports Sci. 2020 Aug;38(15):1699‑1707. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1756672. PubMed

Acupuncture for Jaw Clenching in Vancouver: What Helps Clenching Jaw?