Why has your jaw joint stopped moving freely, even though it used to?
The dysfunction of the jaw joint is not only caused by “overuse” of the jaw, but also by body misalignment and autonomic nervous system issues.
Did you know that when we examine bodies with temporomandibular joint disorders, most of them show no visible damage to the jaw joint or surrounding muscles?
In other words, temporomandibular joint disorders are often caused by poor balance due to cervical spine misalignment and posture issues, or stress-induced pain from autonomic nervous system imbalance.
These body-related examinations are not performed at dental clinics because they are outside their expertise.
To identify the root cause and provide fundamental treatment, it is necessary to approach not only the jaw joint but also the body.
The three major symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder are known to be:
● Jaw pain
● Clicking sounds from the jaw
● Inability to open the mouth
These three symptoms.
In addition to these, symptoms like shoulder stiffness and headaches may also occur,
and these symptoms are caused by habitual actions that damage the jaw joint.
Clenching or grinding your teeth due to stress causes pain in the jaw joint, which, combined with poor posture and chewing habits, leads to misalignment of the skull and body.
It is also common for autonomic nervous system symptoms like headaches and stomach pain, as well as neck, shoulder, and lower back pain or sciatica, to accompany the disorder.
Let’s explain the causes behind these symptoms.
Muscles are widely connected by a thin membrane called the “fascia.”
The fascia in the front of the body, known as the Frontline, covers a broad area, including the jaw joint and the abdominal muscles and diaphragm that surround the internal organs.
If there is misalignment in the neck or shoulders, it affects the area from the temples to the jaw, as shown in the diagram. Additionally, body misalignment can impact the internal organs and autonomic nervous system, causing pain.
It is widely known that when the autonomic nervous system is out of balance, pain becomes more likely.
Clenching or poor blood flow often puts indirect pressure on the jaw joint. We have confirmed that cases where a mouthguard cannot resolve the issue at a dental clinic can often be alleviated by addressing autonomic nervous system balance.
Temporomandibular joint disorder needs to be fundamentally improved by fully understanding these causes.
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