How’s your posture right now? Whether you’ve woken up with a sore back, are learning how to make a good first impression, or your parents often told you to sit up straight as a child, you probably know that good posture is important. However, many people don’t take into consideration how their posture influences other parts of their body, like their bite alignment. In fact, recent studies indicate that if you regularly slouch over your computer or phone, you could be changing how your jaws come together! Read on as we explore the connection between your posture and your bite, and what you can do to keep both healthy.
How Your Spine and Your Jaw Are Connected
Your entire body is connected in intricate and complex ways. For instance, spraining your ankle could change how you walk, which in turn could cause extra pressure and discomfort in your knee or hip. Holding your arm in a certain position for too long could cause the muscles around your shoulder to become strained, which would cause soreness in your neck or upper back. Your spine supports your head and jaw, so it’s no wonder that it can influence your bite.
Slouching, hunching over, and having bad posture in general pushes your skull forward. It also puts extra pressure on your jaw, which in turn shifts forward as well. The more frequently this happens, the more your jaw joints become accustomed to this new position. Over time, it can cause a semi-permanent change in how your bite comes together.
The Consequences of a Misaligned Bite
Are you surprised that your bad posture has been changing your bite? Even if your jaws don’t hurt, a misaligned bite can lead to serious complications later, such as:
- Extra wear and tear on teeth
- An increased risk of tooth sensitivity, discoloration, and cavities
- An increased risk of chipped or cracked teeth
- Delays in orthodontic treatment
- Worsening of current jaw problems
- Jaw stiffness, soreness, and TMJ dysfunction
The Basics for Improving Your Posture
Changing your posture will improve many areas of your life, including your smile! Here are a few important tips to keep in mind if you want to have better posture:
- Be mindful of your posture, even when eating, driving, working, and relaxing.
- Occasionally, take a few deep breaths and expand your lungs all the way
- Tighten your stomach muscles to support your core and take pressure off your lower back
- Raise your chest and roll your shoulders back and down.
Remember, your posture is just one of many factors that can influence your bite. If you’re concerned about your bite alignment, talk to your orthodontist to see if your smile is in need of treatment.
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontic Hopkinton, we’re proud to help smiles of all ages overcome practically any orthodontic issue. From traditional braces to dental facial orthopedics, we offer a wide range of treatments that are 100% personalized to meet the unique needs and goals of our patients. If you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, or other bite issues, don’t hesitate to contact us for the expert care you need! We can be reached online or at (508) 435-1200.