Tag: Balanced Bite

TMJ Jaw Pain West Kelowna

Why does my jaw ache on one side? I need help.

Do you suffer from jaw pain? If you do, you’re not alone. Millions of people experience these symptoms because of a condition called TMJ disorder, or TMD for short – temporomandibular disorder.

Jaw pain is often caused by jaw misalignment. This causes jaw pain because of the strain that’s placed upon the muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments of the head. When all of these tissues are in proper alignment, the jaw functions at full capacity and without pain.

The strain, though, can lead to headaches, migraines, and tooth pain. It can even lead to cracked or broken teeth.

What causes misalignment and TMJ disorder? There are a number of causes, including:

Jaws that don’t develop properly
Missing teeth
Gaps in the teeth
Enamel wear
Crowded or crooked teeth

Anatomical dysfunction of the jaws, including overbite, underbite, and crossbite occur due to improper jaw development. Jaw development is altered when there is an airway problem and/or improper tongue function in early life.

The tongue is a big powerful muscle that is supposed to sit on the roof of the mouth at rest, and then just push up during swallowing. It helps develop the upper jaw to a nice wide and forward position, which allows our lower jaw to develop and function in an ideal position.

However, things like thumb-sucking, bottle feeding, tongue ties, and allergies that cause airway congestion and obstruction all alter the function of our tongue in early life. The tongue no longer sits in the proper position and the muscles of the face and mouth have more dominance, causing our upper and lower jaws to develop more narrowly and more retruded. This predisposes us to dental crowding, TMJ and postural pain or problems, and airway issues like snoring and sleep apnea.

It’s important to note that a TMJ disorder will eventually lead to problems with your overall health. In addition to all of the dental problems TMD patients face, they can also end up with:

Sleep apnea (which can cause many medical problems)
Bad digestion
Making poor nutritional decisions (because no one wants to eat crunchy carrots when you have jaw pain or sore teeth)
Fatigue
Instability and poor posture.

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Can misalignment of the jaw affect your posture and overall health? Yes it can.

Is the idea that the misalignment of your jaw can lead to poor posture a new one for you? You’re not alone. Many people don’t realize just how impactful TMJ disorder and jaw pain can be on the rest of the body.

It’s amazing just how intricately connected the entire body really is, which is why a dentist West Kelowna, Dr. Shauna Palmer will encourage you to get treatment for TMD. It’s not just about fixing the teeth – it’s about fixing the body. And science backs this up.

Researchers at the University of Barcelona, Spain and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, found a correlation between dental malocclusion and posture in separate 2016 studies.

The data from these studies showed that when one part of the body is out of alignment, others will be as well. So, patients with TMJ disorder are more likely to experience muscle fatigue, loss of balance, and pain throughout their body.

How does a loss of balance fit into this scenario? It’s due to the vestibular nerves related to balance and control, as well as the trigeminal nerve, which is the main nerve involved in mastication.

The muscles of the neck also play a role, and when there is strain and tightness, which is common in TMD patients, these nerves are activated. The result is jaw pain, as well as pain throughout the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as loss of balance and stability.

TMJ Jaw pain dentist in West Kelowna to the rescue

Thankfully, Dr. Shauna Palmer, can help. Through the implementation of certain dental procedures that put the jaw in a healthy, neutral position, you will experience:

Less pain throughout the body
Improved posture due to better alignment and less pain
Fewer headaches
Less fatigue
Fewer injuries, like sprains, strains, and fractures (due to balance improvement)
Better athletic performance.

Though jaw issues might not seem significant at first, research is continuing to show how closely linked the jaw is with the rest of the body. Therefore, when you get treatment from a West Kelowna TMJ dentist, you can rest assured that you’ll be taking steps to improve your overall health, not just your dental health.

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What patients say about Kelowna TMJ Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer

[These are actual Google Reviews]

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Improve your posture: How Health & Beauty dentistry can help

Isn’t it amazing to know that by tackling the cause of your jaw pain you can address multiple health issues?

This is why it’s so important to have any jaw, head, or facial pain treated as soon as possible. Fortunately, your West Kelowna TMJ dentist can help.

With a series of physiologic/neuromuscular based tests, including sonography, electromyography, jaw tracking, 3-D imaging, a sleep study to see what the airway and jaw are doing at night, and a comprehensive exam, Dr. Shauna Palmer can come up with a definitive diagnosis. Once that has been done, you’ll receive a treatment plan that can include physiologically based orthotic therapy, physiologic based orthodontics, bite adjustments, physiologically based restorations, or a combination of treatments.

With some time, you’ll notice you have less pain and tension throughout your entire body. When everything is in proper alignment, you’ll have better posture, less pain, and more energy, all of which will allow you to live a full, happy, and healthy life.

Do you experience jaw pain? It might be a TMJ disorder. Contact Dr. Shauna Palmer at Health & Beauty dentistry to find out about possible TMJ jaw pain treatment options.

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Why choose Dr. Shauna Palmer?

Switch to a holistic approach

End Holistic Dentistry confusion
Don’t continue unhealthy dentistry
Avoid putting toxic chemicals into your body
Stop treating symptoms only, treat the causes
Forget about a one size fits all approach to dentistry

Live healthier, happier and longer

Take control over what goes into your mouth and body
Strive for the oral health you’ve always wanted
Find clarity about healthy, natural, holistic dentistry
Enjoy feeling better about yourself
Choose a healthier life!

Make an appointment today!

Health & Beauty Dentistry

Sports Mouth Guards West Kelowna

sports mouthguards west-kelowna

Kelowna dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer: Protect yourself with a sports mouth guard.

Dentistry is a vital part of dental health for all athletes and can help with dental emergencies and also prevent them from happening in the first place with Kelowna sports mouth guards.

Sports always require higher levels of balance, power and flexibility for success. Studies have shown that these 3 elements are improved when the muscles, the human skeleton and the nervous system are working in optimum harmony.

A person’s bite or dental occlusion works in close conjunction with the neck and, if the bite is not ideal, the muscles and alignment of the jaw and neck are negatively affected. The old saying “the head bone is connected to the neck bone…” and so on comes into play.

Thus the overall body postural alignment, muscle balance and the effectiveness of the motor nervous system are affected as well and the athlete cannot perform optimally.

Perform better by balancing your bite

In summary, both elite and recreational athletes alike can benefit from having a balanced bite and balanced posture. This can be achieved through the fabrication of a specialized “mouthguard” that is made specifically to the ideal physiologic position of the jaw through the use of a muscle relaxation device (ultra low frequency TENS) and computerized jaw tracking and muscle tension monitoring system (EMG’s).

If you’d like more information regarding custom sports guards or other holistic dental care options, don’t hesitate to ask.

My team and I are happy to provide you with information regarding best dental care practices and providing you with safe, quality dental services.

With regular dental examinations, we can find and treat dental issues in the earliest stages and can even help prevent some of them. Please remember: A sports mouth guard is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

west-kelowna sports mouthguards

Why should athletes wear mouth guards?

Sports mouth guards were created to protect teeth, jaws and minimize concussion risks,. Custom-fitted mouth guards, worn during contact-sports, have also been developed to improve your physical ability by combining science and physiologically based dentistry.

For many Canadians, their lower jaw may not be in its best, most comfortable position. This can cause facial pain and muscle tension around the jaw. Eventually, imbalance jaws can lead to stiffness, inflexibility and other issues all throughout your body. You would be surprised to learn just how important a properly aligned jaw is; how it can improve your endurance, your strength and your overall physical ability.

When your jaw is in its best position, the muscles surrounding the area are no longer stressed. Proper jaw position can help you to achieve a more comfortable bite, improved balance, better flexibility and increased upper body strength. A good-fitting mouth guard helps your muscles return to their optimal position. This can help you reach the athletic peak you have been striving for and minimize the effects or help prevent a concussion.

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What patients say about Kelowna Holistic Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer

[These are actual Google Reviews]

mouthguards adults kelowna

How do sports guards work?

The sports mouthguard is worn on the upper or lower teeth, depending on the type of sport, contact or non-contact.

In addition to athletes who traditionally wear mouth guards – football, hockey and soccer players – there are numerous other athletes who are reaping the benefits of wearing a mouthguard. Baseball players, marathoners, swimmers, cyclists and strength trainers have all found that using a mouthguard vastly increases their strength, balance and agility.

The athletic mouthguard looks at the way your jaw, teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) work together through their position in the mouth. When there is a problem with your jaw alignment, symptoms such as headaches, pain in the neck & shoulders, jaw pain, clicking or popping of the jaw and ringing in the ears can occur.

Dr. Palmer has the knowledge and technology to determine your best possible jaw position through a computerized jaw tracking system and TENS machine. The TENS machine helps relax your muscles, putting them in their most comfortable position. During your evaluation, Dr. Palmer will take impressions of your teeth and record your optimal bite. Your mouth guard will take about a week to be made in a lab and during your second visit, you will be fitted with your brand new custom-made mouth guard.

What happens when I do not wear my sports guard?

When your lower jaw is misaligned there is additional stress and strain put on the muscles of your face, jaw and neck. In addition, your shoulders and upper back muscles are negatively affected.

This in turn affects your posture and depletes energy from your body, and makes you more susceptible to concussion injury. When your jaw is aligned the way it should be, your muscles and your spine are relaxed. This improves upper body strength, flexibility and balance.