Not all of us are blessed with straight teeth from the get-go. In fact, approximately 56% of the worldwide population has what we call malocclusion. This means crowded teeth that can impact our bite, the health of our jaw, and so much more. But thankfully, there are dental treatments available to treat malocclusion to help you get relief. And your dentist in Berrien Springs can help.

What is malocclusion?

As we suggested above, malocclusion is a misalignment of the teeth or jaws that can affect your bite and overall oral health. When your teeth or jaws don’t fit together properly, it can lead to difficulties in chewing, speaking, and maintaining good oral hygiene. 

This misalignment can cause excessive wear on your teeth, jaw pain, and even headaches. Here are the common types of malocclusion:

• Overbite: Upper front teeth overlap too much over the lower front teeth
• Underbite: Lower front teeth push out past the upper front teeth
• Crossbite: Upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth when you bite down
• Open bite: There’s a gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together
• Crowding: Not enough space for all teeth to fit properly
• Spacing: Gaps or spaces between the teeth due to missing teeth or too much room
• Deep bite: Upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth more than they should
• Edge-to-edge bite: Upper and lower teeth meet directly on top of each other

Neuromuscular Dentistry and Jaw Alignment

In many cases, if you have overcrowding in your teeth, your dentist in Berrien Springs might suggest pulling a tooth or getting orthodontics to help relieve the crowding. Doing so can help alleviate pain and discomfort. But, there is another approach that is less widely known—neuromuscular dentistry. 

Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on relaxing the jaw muscles to find the optimal position for your jaw. By using specialized techniques and equipment, dentists can ease tension in the joints and improve jaw alignment. This approach helps to balance the bite, reducing strain and discomfort.

Neuromuscular techniques can also help with overcrowding by adjusting the jaw position, creating more space for your teeth to fit comfortably. This can lead to better alignment and a healthier, more comfortable bite.

Relieving Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

When your teeth are crowded, it can result in some extreme jaw pain. This pain isn’t just a mild discomfort, either. It can keep you up at night, preventing a good night’s sleep. Further, TMD can make it hard to focus and even to eat. That’s why it is so important to relieve your pain.

There is a strong connection between malocclusion, or misaligned teeth, and TMD. When your teeth don’t fit together properly, it can put extra stress on your jaw joints and muscles, leading to TMD. Symptoms of TMD include jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and difficulty chewing.

Neuromuscular dentistry can play a significant role in relieving these symptoms. By focusing on the alignment and relaxation of the jaw muscles, this approach helps to reduce the strain on your temporomandibular joints. Using techniques such as muscle relaxation exercises, bite adjustments, and sometimes orthotic devices, neuromuscular dentistry aims to find the most comfortable position for your jaw.

This not only helps in relieving pain and discomfort but also improves overall jaw function. Patients often experience reduced jaw pain, fewer headaches, and better sleep. By addressing the root cause of TMD through proper jaw alignment, neuromuscular dentistry can provide long-term relief and improve your quality of life.

Other Strategies for Reducing Jaw Pain

Aside from neuromuscular dentistry, there are some other things you can do to relieve tension in your jaw. And much of it starts with stress management. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga can help reduce overall stress, which in turn can lessen jaw tension. 

Applying warm compresses to your jaw can also help relax the muscles and ease pain. Gentle jaw exercises, as recommended by your dentist or physical therapist, can improve flexibility and reduce discomfort. Avoiding hard or chewy foods can prevent further strain on your jaw.

Lastly, making sure to maintain good posture can alleviate pressure on your jaw and neck muscles, contributing to overall pain relief.

If you are experiencing malocclusion, Berrien Dental is here to help. 

As we mentioned previously, there is no need to let your mind and body suffer the pain that can come with malocclusion. At Berrien Dental, we believe in the benefits of neuromuscular dentistry, such as: 

• Relieves jaw pain
• Reduces headaches
• Improves sleep quality
• Betters jaw alignment
• Eases muscle tension
• Improves bite function
• Reduces symptoms of TMD
• Improves overall comfort

Contact us today to request an appointment and get yourself the relief you deserve. You’ll be glad you did.