Millions of people suffer from TMJ disorders, which can cause pain, discomfort, and other health issues. Many people don’t realize that certain sleeping positions can actually aggravate and contribute to these issues. If you find that you are consistently pushing your jaw forward while sleeping, you could be worsening your TMJ symptoms.
To help explain the impact of pushing your jaw forward while sleeping, we’ve reached out to Dr. Mingus. As a TMJ specialist, Dr. Mingus has a wealth of knowledge and experience about jaw alignment and other TMJ issues. In this article, he’ll answer some common questions about TMJ and provide some valuable information on how you can help keep your jaw alignment in check.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. It helps to provide movement and allow for biting, chewing, and speaking. When the joint becomes inflamed or misaligned, it can cause a variety of symptoms and lead to a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Common symptoms of TMD include jaw pain, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, and soreness in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. TMD can also cause a popping or clicking sound in the jaw when you open or close your mouth, and may cause headaches and earaches. Left untreated, TMD can lead to more severe consequences like chronic pain and decreased joint mobility.
Pushing Your Jaw Forward While Sleeping
One common cause of TMJ and TMD is pushing the jaw forward while sleeping. This happens when either through habit or unintentional muscular movement, you push your bottom jaw slightly forward in the direction of your top jaw. This can occur both while you’re awake and while you’re asleep.
Unfortunately, when you push your jaw forward in this manner, it can cause the TMJ joint and nearby muscles to go out of alignment, leading to inflammation and potentially worsening TMD symptoms. It can also strain the muscles in the neck and shoulders, leading to further discomfort. In some cases, the jaw may even become misaligned and stuck in a forward position, which is known as forward head posture.
How to Prevent Pushing Your Jaw Forward While Sleeping
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help prevent pushing your jaw forward while sleeping. One of the best things you can do is to work on improving your overall posture. When your posture is aligned correctly, it helps to reduce strain on the TMJ joint and nearby muscles.
It may also be helpful to work on reducing stress and anxiety, as these can cause involuntary muscular movements that may contribute to pushing your jaw forward while sleeping. Taking steps to relax and destress before going to bed can help to calm your nervous system and reduce the likelihood of muscle tension.
When it comes to sleeping positions, it’s important to try to maintain a neutral position for your head and neck. You can help to keep your jaw in a relaxed position by using a supportive pillow or neck roll under your neck. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this can lead to forward head posture and increase the likelihood of pushing your jaw forward while sleeping.
Seeking Treatment for TMJ and TMD
If you are dealing with TMJ or TMD symptoms, it’s important to seek treatment from a dentist or TMJ specialist. They can help to diagnose the condition and develop a treatment plan to help alleviate your symptoms.
Treatment for TMJ and TMD may include muscle relaxation techniques, physical therapy, and orthodontic treatment. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the joint and surrounding structures.
Conclusion
Pushing your jaw forward while sleeping can lead to TMJ and TMD symptoms, and even worsen existing symptoms. To help prevent these problems, it’s important to work on improving your posture, reducing stress and anxiety, and trying to maintain a neutral sleeping position. If you’re dealing with TMJ or TMD symptoms, it’s important that you seek treatment from a dentist or TMJ specialist. With the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you can help to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
