These Two Exercises Can Help Reduce Tooth, Jaw or Neck Pain!
September 9, 2011 By: Lynne Brick
Have you ever experienced tooth pain, jaw pain, neck pain or a headache? Has your dentist asked you if you grind your teeth? And if you do has your dentist offered to make a dental guard to protect your teeth? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, have you done any exercises to help reduce or alleviate the pain? It just may be the treatment you need.
Even the bible says, “Then throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42) Bruxism is the gnashing or grinding of your teeth and /or clenching of your jaw.
Almost ten million Americans suffer from bruxism at some period in their life. Five percent develop painful symptoms. You may or may not be consciously aware of when you grind your teeth or clench your jaw. For many people, bruxism is a habitual behavior that occurs during sleep.
What can cause bruxism? You can develop bruxism from a variety of causes such as medical ailments, allergic reactions, trauma or stress. The muscles in your cheek and jaw are intended to masticate. Not clench your teeth together tight. Bruxism can potentially lead to occlusal trauma, which can result in fractures, wearing down your teeth or permanent dental damage.
How can you stop grinding your teeth and/ or clenching your jaw? Here’s what happened to me:
I was experiencing pain in my right upper molar. I recently had a crown placed on my right lower molar due to dental fractures. I thought that perhaps something had gone wrong. My dentist tapped on my teeth and I almost jumped out of the chair! My teeth were sensitive and painful. She noticed some fractures in my upper molar and referred me to an endodontist.
A few days later, I arrived, stressed and worried that the endodontist would tell me I needed two root canals! Much to my surprise after an exam, he told me I did not need a root canal. I was relieved! He explained that my pain was muscularly induced. He asked the same question: “Do you grind your teeth?” My reply, “Not that I’m aware.” He proceeded to tell me two simple exercises to relieve the muscular stress and tension in my jaw:
- Do this every hour I am awake: Take a deep breath in. Swallow. Then as I exhale, allow my lower jaw to drop open slightly to relax my temporomandibular joint.
- Repeat this positive affirmation 10 times just prior to falling asleep: “I will not clench my teeth.” Research has proved that repeating a positive affirmation exactly 10 times (not 15, not 5 or even 20. Just 10) will sub-consciously train the brain to remove the negative behavior that unconsciously occurs during sleep. A self- hypnosis technique!
I did both exercises and after three days, voila, my tooth pain disappeared! So did the tension in my jaw as well as the pain in my neck. It was amazing! These two exercises helped me. I hope they can help you too!
Have you tried any other mind-altering exercises that have helped change your sub-conscious behavior? Please share them! Thank you!
Last week’s question: What is your favorite “I Love Lucy” episode? My favorite was when Lucy and Ethel worked at the candy factory. Please share yours!
This week’s question: What is favorite fitness activity?
Thought for the day: (Quote): “Confucius Say: The best time to go to the dentist is tooth hurty.”
Sources:
This post has no comments. Leave a comment »