Did you ever think that symptoms such as headaches, ringing of the ears, neck, shoulder, or back pain could be related to your bite?

Most people don’t. Yet as many as 44 million Americans suffer from a condition known as “TMJ” Dysfunction, which is basically a dental disorder. “TMJ” refers to the Temporomandibular Joints – those two joints which connect your jaw bone to your skull, just in front of your ears. Anything which disrupts the proper workings of these joints can result in many seemingly unrelated symptoms. In addition to those mentioned above, symptoms might include: clicking or popping of the jaw joints, jaw pain, locking or limited opening of your mouth, or ringing of the ears.

What causes these joints to dysfunction? The real culprit is your bite. If your bite is not right, the muscles which controls your jaw must work extra hard to bring your teeth together. They become tired, stiff, and painful.

The good news is that once properly identified, this condition can be treated by a dentist who is trained to do so. Treatment involves correcting the bite so that the jaw muscles can relax and work together in harmony.

For a free pamphlet with more information on this subject, contact Dr. Claire Stagg-Ruda at 321-777-2797. She is located at 2120 Highway A1A in Indian Harbour Beach, FL.