Have you noticed that you’re having more headaches than usual and your jaw feels stiff or sore? If so, you may have developed TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). If the sliding-disc joints that anchor your jawbone to your skull are misaligned or overworked, they can become painfully inflamed.
There are several potential treatments available, including massage therapy, an oral appliance to help relax your jaw, BOTOX injections, and others. However, did you know that correcting your posture can also help alleviate your symptoms? Continue reading to learn how!
How Does My Poster Impact TMJ?
It’s easy to think of your dental condition separately from your general health, but the truth is that they are closely intertwined. Your mouth is supported by bones, muscles, and ligaments that are connected to your skull, neck, shoulders, and spine. Misalignments in your posture can overwork different muscles, contributing to aches in your jaw, teeth, and face.
That means if you’re experiencing TMJ tenderness, you can potentially reduce soreness and stiffness by correcting your posture, allowing your muscles to function as intended.
What is Correct Posture?
Standing
It’s challenging to improve your posture if you’re unsure what it’s supposed to look like. To learn what a straight spine feels like, you can start by standing with your feet about hip-width apart. Then, shift your weight evenly between them without locking your knees. Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades down away from your earlobes (don’t let them shrug upwards). Finally, tuck your chin slightly down to elongate your neck.
Sitting
If you are sitting at work, it’s best to keep your computer screen at a height of 30 degrees or less from your eye level so you don’t strain to look up or down. Then, keep your wrists at a level where they rest straight on your mousepad or desktop. Bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle and keep your shoulder blades squeezed together. Try to keep your hips, knees, and ankles at a 90-degree angle.
Sleeping
Good posture means different things depending on how you usually lay down to drift off at night. It’s ideal to keep your spine in a neutral position, which can be challenging if you toss and turn. For instance, back sleepers may benefit from using contour pillows to provide additional support to the neck, while stomach sleepers should consider placing a small pillow under their pelvis and a flat one under their head.
This may feel uncomfortable at first if you’re unfamiliar with the sensation. However, with time and practice, you can maintain a supportive posture whether you are standing, sitting, or lying down!
About the Practice
At Exceptional Dentistry, patients benefit from a team of dentists dedicated to improving their daily quality of life by addressing chronic sleep apnea and TMJ-related pain. They collaborate to provide various services to improve your health and have decades of combined experience, so you can trust that you’re in good hands. They combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art technology to provide various treatments to help you get better rest and live more comfortably. You can request an appointment on the website or call (301) 460-3331.