Combat jaw pain, persistent headaches, teeth grinding and even neck and shoulder pain
Many people are surprised to learn how many different kinds of aches, pains and discomforts can be caused by an uneven bite. Undiagnosed or unsuccessfully treated problems with the jaw muscles cause a great deal of misery. If you’ve been suffering in this way, Cliftonville Dental can help you to get to the source of the problem and eliminate it.
An uneven bite is the root cause of many headaches and jaw pain
Extensive studies have shown that problems including ongoing headaches, jaw discomfort and neck & shoulder pain can all be triggered by an uneven bite and other problems with the jaw muscles.
It’s easy to see how this could be: just place your hands on the side of your face and clench your teeth together – you can feel the jaw muscles all the way up to your temples. Muscles this extensive are bound to have an effect on the whole of the head and neck region.
The problem of an imperfect or uneven bite is extremely common, but doesn’t always produce severe symptoms. Often this is because of an ability to gradually adjust to the problem. But some people are prone to symptoms which can dramatically affect their quality of life.
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?
- TMJ (Temporo-mandibular joint) problems – You’ll notice a clicking or grinding in your jaw joints, often accompanied by pain and a ringing in your ear. You may also find it difficult to open your mouth wide.
- Muscle spasm – If your jaw is poorly positioned, the muscles that move it have to work a lot harder and can get tired. This leads to muscle spasm. The main symptoms include continual headaches (especially first thing in the morning after grinding your teeth at night), pain in the neck and shoulders or pain behind the eyes.
- Teeth and Gums – Teeth become heavily worn, chipped or flattened due to excessive tooth grinding. You may frequently find you are losing fillings or breaking crowns. In time, this can lead to loose teeth and receding gums.
If you have a problem which you suspect may be caused by a jaw problem or difficult bite, please don’t suffer in silence! We can arrange a consultation to assess your bite, discuss your problems and talk over possible treatments.
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