Welcome to the September 2020 issue of the Dr. Samantha TMJ newsletter! Each month you will receive 1 TMD-related and 1 Wellness-related educational tidbit or recommendation free to your inbox! As well as any important or fun personal life/news updates I’d like to share with the community :)
Welcome to your home for TMD recovery! & shared space for education and self-care.
TMJ TID-BIT:
What is my jaw doing at rest?
At rest, your lips should be sealed, your tongue gently resting on the roof of your mouth, and your teeth are NOT touching. Check in with yourself now…did you find yourself in this position? Or did you find your teeth in hard contact? Or better yet, are you sitting slumped over as you’re reading this newsletter? All of these mindless habits we’ve innocently created may be contributing to TMD or other future conditions such a headaches or mid back pain. If you’re not experiencing symptoms already, you’re likely on the way to experiencing some sort of myofascial pain as a result of clenching or poor posture. Making small changes during the day in regard to relaxing your jaw at rest and improving your posture are simple ways to make a large impact on your health long term. Awareness is the first step to long-lasting change.
WELLNESS WISDOM:
Does diet influence back pain?
When it comes to spinal pain, there are many factors, but often in the medical or orthopedic setting, lifestyle factors get overlooked. This article takes a closer look at how diet, specifically higher sugar intake, tended to be associated with patients who experience spinal pain. There’s no doubt your diet plays an extremely important role in your overall health, but did you ever think of it influencing your back or neck pain? In practice, I’ve observed less than optimal eating habits contribute to poorer healing rates, decreased mental health, and as a factor perpetuating the chronic pain cycle. What you intake nutrition-wise has much more of an outcome on your body than just your weight. When it comes to TMD, jaw pain may limit what you are able to eat and drastically change your diet; therefore, have a registered dietician may be an important element of your healthcare team.
Stay Connected!
Website: drsamanthatmj.com
Email: samantha@drsamanthatmj.com
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