Hunching has taken the world by storm. People spend hours on their phones and hours in front of computers every day. All of this hunching is causing significant problems for our back, neck, mental health, and head posture. Technology isn’t the only thing causing the world’s head posture problem either; one of the potential culprits is TMJ dysfunction.
How heavy is your head? The human head weighs between 10-12 lbs and depending on how far along your poor head posture is it might feel like more, which only leads to increased problems.
How the TMJ Affects Posture
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) affects more than just the jaw; it can affect back, neck, and mental health in addition to impacting our posture. This cause-and-effect relationship is then made worse by poor posture habits and leads to pain and self-esteem issues.
Like many TMJ-related problems, all signs point to an underdeveloped jaw. Incomplete upper jaw growth forces the lower jaw to retrude, crowding space needed for the tongue. To keep the tongue away from the throat and keep the airway open, neck muscles (like the sternocleidomastoid) have to pull the neck and head forward. Bringing the head forward pulls on the neck and upper back, which causes people to roll their shoulders and lean their head forward.
It’s More Common Than You Think
If this sounds familiar and happens to be you, you’re far from alone.
- Less than 20% of people experience complete or ideal jaw development.
- Research has found that 80% of people with TMD also experience forward head posture (FHP) and sleep breathing disorders (SBD)
- With these two conditions – TMD & FHP, so inextricably linked, treatments need to address both at the same time.
What to Do About Poor Posture
If caught at a young age, some degree of remodeling is possible through balance-focused orthodontics. Because adults have already undergone growth and development, treatment often takes more time than it does for children. As an adult suffering from problems with forward head posture, consulting with a TMJ specialized orthodontist is the best option for treatment.
Dr. Marzban incorporates Digital Smile Designs to demonstrate the cosmetic benefits of her treatment plans. By combining these practices with a functional approach, Dr. Marzban provides patients with successful courses of treatment that can only be found at her office.
Treat TMJ and Forward Head Posture in Burke, Virginia
Neuromuscular dentistry could be the missing piece to improving sleep apnea, poor posture, aches, and pains.
If you’re interested in finding out more and would like a consultation, call our offices at703-323-8200. Dr. Marzban and our team are here to help!
