NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN
For many people, muscle tension is an everyday problem, especially in the neck and shoulder. These areas are very important for the whole body, since they help carry the weight of the head.
Dental issues and postural problems are among the most common causes for chronic pain, tension and tightness in the shoulder and neck areas, which can also spread to the back, hips and legs.
CAN BITE ISSUES CAUSE NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN?
It is easy to understand that if you hurt one knee and limp for a week, this will cause changes in the alignment of your body, bringing stress to the back, hips, ankles and leg muscles. This will probably lead to pain in some parts of the body after a few hours or days.
The same principle applies to bad bite and pain in the neck and shoulders. A bad bite brings strain to chewing muscles, tendons and bones, which are directly related to the head and neck.
In addition, the muscle tension caused by bite issues tends to shift the head into a more forward position, compressing the cervical spine and affecting muscles, ligaments, nerves and arteries in the neck and shoulder areas. Another problem in that a bad bite causes stress in the sutures that join the skull bones an in the membranes that cover the brain and the spine, further contributing to the development of pain in different areas.
Tooth grinding and clenching, usually seen in people with bite issues, can further add stress to the system, making tension and pain in the neck area even more intense. Bite issues can also cause problems in the jaw joint (technically called temporomandibular disorder), which can add stress to head, neck and shoulders.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BAD BITE, NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN
The bite provides a point of stabilization for the cervical spine. When the bite is not stable, it changes the alignment of the first and second vertebrae through the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord (technically called meninges). Compression of the cervical spine manifests as neck pain; it can also radiate to shoulders and move down through the spine.
Several situations can cause bad bite and misalignment of teeth, jaws and jaw joints. Loss of the back teeth, irregular bite, worn out teeth, crowding, tilting, open bite and cross bite are a few examples that can cause bite issues.
MEDICAL ORTHODONTICS CAN TREAT MUSCLE PAIN IN THE NECK AND SHOULDERS
Bite problems are rarely taken into consideration by physicians when evaluating patients with chronic pain. For many, painkillers is the only treatment prescribed by the physician, which does not address the primary cause. Chronic use of medications has numerous side effects in other parts of the body, including headaches.
Orthodontic treatment can have a huge impact on wellbeing simply through the correction of the bite. The orthodontist can correct the position of the teeth and realign them to get an optimal bite, alleviating the chronic pressure on the muscles in the face, head and neck.
Furthermore, correction of the bite improves the position of the lower jaw and the head, re-establishing the alignment of the cervical vertebrae. Moreover, there is a wonderful side effect to the treatment: the whole smile gets a makeover together with the bite.
ORTHODONTICS AND CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY
Traditional braces have been used for correction of teeth; however, many adults and teenagers prefer to wear clear aligners. The fact that these devices are removable is an advantage, making eating and cleaning much easier. Another plus is that the aligners do not affect appearance. The treatment process is digital, making it quicker and predictable.
If teeth are worn out due to grinding, it is also important to rebuild them through crowns. Tooth grinding can require custom-fit mouthguards to help reposition the jaws, protect the teeth from wear and relieve muscle tension.
Are you aware that the body is interconnected and misalignment in one area can affect other areas? If you have constant pain and discomfort in the neck and shoulders, your bite can be the cause.
Talk to your orthodontist today.