I attended the annual conference of the leading TMJ/Craniofacial pain organization this past month in which I hold a Fellowship status (AACP). After hours, I was able to spend more time with friends and mentors, often we learn as much sharing ideas and techniques as in the actual conference. There is an increasing awareness and […]
Mouth Breathing vs. Nose Breathing
Have you ever had a coach or a trainer tell you to breathe in through your nose instead of your mouth? There are scientific facts that prove nose breathing is better for you. Optimal oxygen exchange occurs when we breathe through our nose versus the mouth. You get more than 30% more oxygen with each […]
No Pain, No Problem?
Is asymptomatic the same as “normal” and is “No pain, No problem” the standard of TMJ care today? Many chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and neck problems go on for years without pain or notable symptoms by patients. TMJ dysfunction is also a progressive, measurable problem that ultimately leads to […]
TOP 10 Common Symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children
Children don’t have “sleep apnea”; they have Sleep Disordered Breathing that will progress into Obstructive Sleep Apnea as an adult unless the craniofacial growth disturbances from childhood breathing problems are corrected. TOP 10 Common Symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children: Snoring, loud or labored Breathing. Even 1X per week in young children is considered […]
Cracked Teeth: A Warning Sign
Most of us have experienced a sharp “zing” in a tooth while chewing or biting something hard like ice, candy, or a popcorn kernel. That sudden “zing” causes our jaw muscles to instantly stop contracting and activate the jaw opening muscles unconsciously. That reflex is one of the strongest in the body and is part […]
Longer Sleep Helps Behavior and Health for Our Children
Another article appeared showing the physical and mental/developmental effects of too little sleep for all of us, but especially kids. Sleep Organizations are pushing for later start times for school based on the growing body of evidence “short sleep” is affecting health. Parents can model better sleep habits and set some simple guidelines for their […]
The Dangers of Children with Airway Problems
Snoring, sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea in children is associated with impaired attention, neurocognitive deficits and poor academic performance that is measurable in third grade children[1]. Children should not snore when sleeping, at any age. Snoring even 1-2 nights per week indicates a potential sleep apnea disorder. Other signs are bedwetting (consistent), restless sleep […]
Splints, Nightguards, and Equilibration of the teeth rarely helps TMJ Problems.
A recent article in J. Orofacial Pain & Headache, (the Journal of the American Board of Orofacial Pain of which I am a Diplomat) reviewed success rates of treating TMJ problems by Occlusal Adjustment (also called Equilibration of teeth). Occlusal Adjustment was the final treatment after the Dentists initially used a nightguard, then a splint. Neither treatment helped the pain complaints of headache or facial pain. As a final effort to alleviate the symptoms the Dentists decided to equilibrate the teeth because, as the article suggests, “they didn’t know what else to do”. This was reported to have been done despite the dentist’s foreknowledge that equilibration had a low success rate in alleviating TMJ symptoms.
Children’s Behavior and Sleep Problems
In the American Academy of Sleep Medicine this abstract was included in one of the “most Popular” from last year and it was worth reminding parents of children. The article reviewed the relationship of children, nighttime bruxism (grinding/popping teeth) and preschool behavior problems. Preschool children who grind their teeth and are withdrawn have lower school […]
Aggressive TMJ Arthritis in Teenage Girls – Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Over the past few years, I have seen a growing number of young women and girls with aggressive, degenerative arthritis in their TMJ joints. They didn’t have pain until the damage was late, usually a couple years after clicking started in their joint. Clicking in a TMJ means that the cartilage disc has torn off […]
