TVOFS - Boise Office
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Posted on 3/25/2020 by Cole Anderson, DMD, MS |
 We've all heard it: keep a straight back and you won't have back problems. While keeping good posture does make for a healthier back, it's also good for your oral health. Keeping a straight back is particularly good for the health of your jaw. There are a few reasons that having good posture can help keep your jaw healthy. The biggest reason, however, is that it keeps you safe from a disorder known as TMD. This is because incorrect posture changes the way our head is tilted. This unnatural tilting makes many people clench their teeth. What is TMD?TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder. TMD affects the hinges of your jawbone. If you place your index finger on your earlobe and move it down slightly, you will find this joint. TMD is an inflammation of the muscles that control your jaw movement. In severe cases of TMD, people may not be able to eat properly because the joint causes so much pain. There a few ways to spot if you have TMD or early signs of it. The easiest way is to use your ears. When you open your mouth, you make hear a small clicking sound. This clicking sound indicated that your jaw hinged is stressed at may be at risk for TMD. Another way to spot TMD is by feel. If you constantly have a dull, droning pain near your ear, it's possible you may have TMD. Keeping good posture may help prevent TMD, but there are many different causes. Left unchecked, TMD will become a severe condition. Besides making it difficult to eat, long-term TMD sufferers face oral health complications. If you're worried you may have TMD, there are ways to correct the problem. Please call our office so that we can assist you with finding a solution. |
