Keeping your jaws in line.
A badly aligned ‘bite’ (how your upper and lower teeth fit together) can affect your teeth and the gums, the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) and your facial muscles. TMJ disorder can also cause clenching of the jaw and grinding of the teeth while sleeping, leading to facial pain, headaches, clicking when biting or chewing, as well as neck, shoulder or back pain.
If you do have these problems, treatment can include wearing a specially designed plastic appliance, created from an impression of your teeth for the perfect fit. It works by holding your teeth in a position that keeps the muscles relaxed when you bite down and also prevents tooth wear. Other solutions for a misaligned bite include:
If you think you may have a jaw problem, you will need to see a dentist who can treat your particular issue or refer you to a specialist.