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Health & Fitness

Kick that Bad Habit: Stop Slouching to Relieve Oral Pain and Stress

Slouching seems to be a problem that has swept through teenagers across the world. Well, there’s no doubt that slouching is a comfortable position; however, it has always been highly recommended for anyone with bad posture to correct it immediately in order to prevent strain and injury of muscles. What’s more, dental professionals have also been commenting on problems that can occur due to bad posture. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) recommends that if patients are feeling frequent headaches and pain in the lower jaw, poor posture may be the issue at hand.

 

Poor posture keeps the spine at a position that induces stress to the jaw joint. When individuals are slouching, the lower jaw actually moves forward, keeping the lower and upper teeth from aligning and fitting together. This type of movement can really put stress on muscles, bones and joints, and if let on its own, one can develop pain and inflammation near the joints where the mouth has the most motion. Dentists have noted that patients with facial pain tend to have unbalanced posture. This ends up rearranging their facial muscles, causing bumps and grooves (that naturally fit together properly) to not match up. When individuals end up with a bad bite, TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) results. This is a condition where jaw joints that do not function properly end up causing pain and stress in the surrounding tissue. This can lead to symptoms including ringing in the ears, difficulty biting, and jaw popping.

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Having good posture is constantly talked about in terms of back problems, but it can very well be linked to maintaining good oral health. It is important to practice good posture, not just to avoid back problems, but also to avoid oral cavity issues. Try to make sitting and standing up straight a healthy habit! If you have any more questions, feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com

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