Posted by Invisible but tangible relationships link between teeth and posture. Bites defects such as those caused by dental malocclusions can hurt the spine and postural balance. This includes the back, head, and feet.
The dentist is responsible for finding these connections. This holistic approach considers the human body as one complex system. According to the smile dentist London Ontario specialists, the most effective and common solutions are orthodontics and bite.
Why teeth can affect posture
Numerous studies over the years have shown that bite and dental problems can be a major factor in the onset and progression of disorders like headaches, backache (cervical or lumbar), posture defects, and others.
The definition of posture is the static or dynamic attitude of the body towards the environment. In other words, posture refers to the way we position ourselves every day when we stand still or move.
The mandibular muscles can be triggered incorrectly by the dental arches not closing properly. This causes tensions to build up and then discharge onto the spine.
Dental problems and posture
After explaining why teeth affect posture, it is time to identify which disorders are most common and persistent.
Malocclusion is the most common disorder that causes postural imbalances in the mouth. The incorrect position of the mandible can lead to problems in the upper arch.
These effects can vary depending on the type of malocclusion, and the position between the lower dental arch and the upper one. The occlusion/postural relationship is one of the most complicated in the human body. Let’s look at the most common situations:
- The open bit causes the head and shoulders to sag.
- The cross bit is a problem in the pelvis. It also involves muscle contractions that affect the upper chest, shoulders, and upper back.
- The deep bit can cause accentuation of cervical lordosis issues on one hand, and different contractions of neck muscles on the second.
Open bite
Too much pressure from the tongue can cause damage to the teeth and push the upper arch of the dental crown forward. What does this mean? The result? This is vertical Malocclusion.
The open bite can cause the body’s center to move forward, with the shoulders moving forward, at a postural level. These cases may cause pain or discomfort in the lower rear.
Crossbite
Crossbite is when the occlusion horizontally is misaligned. Also, crossbite occurs when the upper arch cannot override that of the lower.
This can cause misalignment to various parts of the teeth or one side only. Dental problems can cause crossbites. For example, an inclination in some teeth or a bridge too high can lead to asymmetrical eating. Other causes of crossbite may include hereditary gene problems, bruxism, or improper childhood habits
Postural symptoms are mainly caused by an alteration in the spine. This can lead to misalignment and muscle pain that is felt on the upper chest and shoulders.
Deep bite
Contrary to the other two cases, deep bites have origins that are mainly related to skeletal abnormalities. These are often then exacerbated by the bad habit (very common), of grinding your teeth very hard during sleep (bruxism). Crossbite is a common problem in patients.
It occurs when the upper incisors are too close to the lower ones, extending beyond their limits by more than 2mm. The symptoms can be described orally as difficulties in chewing and swallowing, and sometimes even difficulty pronouncing.
Instead, the effects at the postural level can be quite different. The head moving forward can cause an increase in the cervical tilt and other problems due to the contraction of the neck muscles.
How can a dentist help with postural problems?
This prevention of postural issues also includes oral health. To avoid problems with the back and head, regular dental visits, good oral hygiene, as well as proper care of your teeth, are all important. As mentioned, it is important not to underestimate the impact of teeth on postural problems.
It is important to first perform an occlusion/postural examination to determine the cause. This will allow you to take into account the position of your body, how you chew, and how you rest your feet.
The dentist can decide to treat the situation differently depending on what the problem is. The bit is one of the most popular solutions. This device can be placed between the teeth to correct mandibular closing and prevent muscle contractions.
The use of orthotics is equally common. It can be in fixed, mobile, or transparent forms. In more serious and complex cases, it may be possible to use a prosthetic to correct the problem with chewing.