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Do you have chronic tension in the neck and shoulders? Perhaps your head tends to jut forward a little and your posture is a little off? It could be the result of TMD, a little-known dental condition where the jaw joints are not moving properly. TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and although it is little-known, it is a common condition. Most TMD sufferers do not know what is causing their discomfort. They may become so used to their TMD symptoms that they think it’s just the way they were born and nothing can be done. The symptom that most often sends a person to a doctor’s office is the chronic and migraine-like headaches. Prescription painkillers certainly help but they do not address the cause of the headaches. See a Neuromuscular Dentist Neuromuscular dentistry is not taught in most dental schools. It requires post-graduate study and the use of special technology and most dentists pursue neither. A neuromuscular dentist will look not just at your teeth and gums, but also at your jaw joints, jaw muscles and nerves, and the three-part mechanism of your bite. Large Nerves in the Jaw and Neck The jaw area has several large nerves branching out through it. They run from the brain to the head, face, and neck and either enable you to move your jaw and facial features; or carry sensory messages back to the brain, including pain messages; or both. When your jaw joints and bite are out of alignment, the jaw muscles try to correct it. They try to bring your teeth together correctly but cannot. One of the common TMD symptoms is neck pain and it often goes with a habit of tooth grinding or jaw clenching. There are four jaw muscles on each side, spreading over most of side of the head from the temple, and over much of the cheek and ear area. Over time, they become inflamed and this compresses the nerves, which you feel as pain. If one branch of a nerve is compressed and sends pain messages to the brain, its other branches may also send pain messages, even if they are not compressed. As a result, you feel pain in the neck or shoulders when the problem is actually in the jaw joint. In the absence of any effective treatment of your TMD, the pain becomes chronic, inflammation remains, nerves are constantly irritated, and your mood can also be affected. Correcting the Jaw Position You may have heard about the Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM) worn by professional sports players. It improves their balance, speed, strength, and flexibility in playing and gives them a competitive edge. How does it do that? First, it is custom-made for each individual and fits snugly. Second, it does not just protect the mouth; it also holds the jaw in a correct position, which allows the muscles to relax. That, in turn, reduces or eliminates pain and discomfort in the face, neck and shoulders. It restores correct posture, which restores good balance and improves strength and flexibility. The secret is muscle relaxation from having a correct jaw position. You do not have to be a sports player to have these benefits. The PPM was designed by a neuromuscular dentist and you can have your own customized device made to hold your jaw correctly while you sleep. If you would like to know more about TMD and its symptoms like neck pain, you would do well to schedule a consultation with a qualified neuromuscular dentist in your area.
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