Bruxism is basically a whole-body SWERPSS problem showing up through the teeth. What is bruxism really? - It’s nervous system overload (fight-or-flight stuck “on”) - Often mixed with sleep/airway issues, inflammation, and nutrient gaps - The jaw is just where the body vents that tension SWERPSS is literally the framework to dial all of that down. S - Sunshine FitnHealthy Bruxism link - circadian rhythm, stress hormones, vitamin D - Morning sun helps set a healthy cortisol curve leads to less wired & tired at night leads to less night grinding. - Sunlight & vitamin D leads to better calcium & magnesium balance, nerve/muscle function, and mood. - Lower inflammation & better sleep leads to less jaw clenching. W - Water FitnHealthy Bruxism link - tension, headaches, electrolyte balance - Dehydration leads to more muscle tension and headaches, which often live in the jaw & temples. - Proper hydration and electrolytes help muscles relax instead of spasm. - A dry, tense body gives you a dry, tense jaw. E - Exercise FitnHealthy Bruxism link - nervous system discharge vs overload - The right movement (walking, strength training, mobility) helps burn off stress hormones and calms the nervous system. - Overtraining, chronic HIIT, or late-night intense workouts can jack up cortisol and make grinding worse. - Move to release tension, not to punish yourself. Your jaw will feel the difference. R - Rest FitnHealthy Bruxism link - : sleep quality & airway This is huge. - Poor sleep, mouth breathing, snoring, apnea leads to where the brain keeps “waking”which can lead to bruxism and often shows up as a compensatory response. - Deep, consistent sleep with good sleep hygiene (dark room, no screens late, wind-down routine) reduces the triggers for night grinding - Every hour of deeper sleep is less emergency work for your jaw at night. P - Protein FitnHealthy Bruxism link - blood sugar, neurotransmitters, hormonal repair - Balanced protein through the day keeps blood sugar steady, preventing cortisol spikes that ramp up tension. - Protein supplies amino acids for GABA and serotonin, the calming brain chemicals that help muscles relax and promote better sleep. - Supports tissue repair in TMJ, muscles, and teeth themselves. - Stable protein leads to stable blood sugar leads to a calmer brain and quieter jaw.

WHAT is Bruxism? Bruxism is the medical term for- - Teeth grinding - Jaw clenching - Tension in the jaw muscles It can happen during the day (awake bruxism) or while asleep (sleep bruxism) Sleep bruxism is considered a movement disorder, often linked to stress, nervous system imbalance, or airway issues. WHO Gets Bruxism? Almost anyone but some groups are more at risk. - People with high stress or anxiety - People with poor sleep quality - Those with misaligned bite or dental issues - People with sleep apnea or airway problems - Individuals with acid reflux - Those who drink caffeine late in the day - People who use nicotine, alcohol, or certain medications - Kids going through growth spurts - Adults with chronic tension patterns (neck, shoulders, jaw) It is very common in women 40+, especially with hormonal changes that affect stress response and sleep quality. WHEN Does Bruxism Happen? At night - Most common - People often don’t know they’re doing it - Often linked to sleep disturbances, airway obstruction, and stress hormones During the day - Usually due to stress, concentration, or habit - Happens while driving, working, or scrolling on a phone WHERE Does Bruxism Show Up in the Body? It’s not just the teeth as bruxism has full-body effects. - Jaw pain - Headaches (especially temple tension) - Neck and shoulder tightness - Cracked or worn teeth - Receding gums - Ear pain or ringing - Facial asymmetry - Clicking or popping in the jaw - Poor sleep quality - TMJ disorders Night grinding can even lead to morning exhaustion from micro-awakenings during sleep. WHY Does Bruxism Happen? Bruxism is almost never about the teeth alone. It's a nervous system and airway issue disguised as a dental one. The MOST Common Root Causes Stress & Overactive Fight or Flight response When the brain feels threatened (that Tiger chasing You), the jaw muscles tense automatically. Key - This becomes chronic if the nervous system stays stuck in stress mode.

The Heart Brain (Your “Emotional Regulator”) Your heart communicates with your brain through the vagus nerve. It also reacts instantly to stress, fear, and overwhelm. Low heart-brain coherence = irritability, emotional reactivity, low resilience. High coherence = calm, focused, emotionally stable. When the heart brain is stressed You may feel- - Quick to snap - Easily exhausted emotionally - Unable to calm down - More cortisol surges - Poor sleep - Higher blood pressure - Brain fog FitnHealthy tips to support it- - 10 minutes of brisk walking daily, after meal as a bonus to mop up fat storing insulin. - Slow exhale breathing (4 seconds in, hold for 4 seconds, 8 seconds out or similar combo) - Cut stimulants (coffee, energy drinks) in the afternoon - Daily sunlight exposure (ideally morning) on the eyes/skin - more on this later - Magnesium glycinate at night Who wants Part 4 tomorrow? Hey, that rhymes🤣 How many of these are you prepared to try this week?

Hi I’m Voula from Ontario. Looking to improve my physique in this group and learn some great information along the way. Looking forward to seeing everyone in this community.

Over the last 15+ years, I’ve watched something heartbreaking happen. Story after story. Woman after Woman. Family after family. Especially the kids. All sharing the same quiet suffering. - I don’t feel like myself anymore. - My anxiety is worse than ever. - My meds stopped working. - I feel flat, numb, or exhausted. - No one can tell me why this is happening. Every time I heard these stories, I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. Sometimes it was sadness, because the pain was so real for them. Sometimes worry, because no one seemed to have real answers. Sometimes frustration, because the system kept giving the same old explanations that didn’t make sense. Sometimes anger, because especially women & kids were being dismissed, ignored, or told it was “all in their head.” But most of all, I felt something deeper. A sense of responsibility. A feeling that someone needed to pull back the curtain. A belief that people truly deserve truth, not another pill or band-aid. Something major has changed in our society, in our bodies, in our food, in our stress, and in our brain chemistry.And almost no one is talking about it. So I started digging.And studying.And questioning everything we were taught about serotonin, dopamine, anxiety, depression, and the growth of the mental health industry. Along the way, I realized something that shocked me. The old serotonin story, you know the one, the one we were told for decades, might just be wrong. And Society as a whole has been paying the price ever since. If there's enough interest - We're going to share in a long, easy to understand series - - Why anxiety has exploded - Why depression feels different now - Why SSRIs aren’t working like they used to - Why people feel flat, numb, or disconnected - Why dopamine and motivation have collapsed - Why the gut plays a bigger role than anyone imagined - Why women are exhausted, overwhelmed, and burned out My hope is that this series gives you what so many women, kids Families have been searching for and that's Clarity.Validation & Answers.