A ‘Temporo Mandibular Disorder’ (TMD)…?more than a mouthful
Throughout your day you run into all kinds of people that mention all kinds of ailments. Strained knee, sore shoulder, headache, twisted ankle, aching arm … but you probably don’t encounter anyone who says “yeah, I’ve got a really bad bite!”
The reality is, a bad bite can result in soreness, improper mouth function and deformation of your face. A bad bite is also a leading cause of TMJ. Your upper and lower teeth don’t close and come together in the correct way – the way they are intended. The obvious signs include an under-bite or an over-bite, however, someone with a beautiful smile can still experience irritation if their muscles and joints aren’t comfortable.
So, how did I acquire this ‘bad bite’?
Your unaligned jaw and poorly fitted teeth could be the result of one issue or a combination of factors.
Allergies as a child
Thumb sucking or other oral habits
Old dentistry that has broken down or worn out
The shifting of teeth after tooth loss
They could also be misaligned as a result of an accident or trauma issue. If you have experienced tooth loss, the shifting of your teeth can result in a bad bite which leads to TMJ
The affects of a misaligned jaw
When your teeth are misaligned, they cannot provide enough muscle support in your face needed for chewing and swallowing. These muscles are then forced into a strained position which translates to discomfort throughout the face, head, arms, shoulders and back.
The over-worked muscles from an unbalanced bite can result in pain that will materialize in the form of migraines, headaches, earaches, muscles tenderness, facial discomfort, a sore jawand a multitude of other symptoms.
An imbalanced bite stresses and strains the jaw, creating issues in the joints, muscles, nerves and all its related operations. This can impact the way your mouth functions and can prevent you from fully opening your mouth and limiting your eating, swallowing, chewing and talking ability.
A bad bite can have significant wear and tear on your teeth and can radically impact the appearance of your face. Your lips change shape. Wrinkles and creases form and deepen on the sides of your nose and mouth. And your lower lip starts to roll out and jowls begin to appear.
Learn about TMJ diagnosis. A bad bite leads to health, comfort and aging problems. Get yours treated today!
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