Whether you’re an adult with a sore back from sitting on the couch too long or a teenager whose parents keep reprimanding them for slouching over your phone, you’ve probably been reminded many times that good posture is important. While you may not realize it when you’re younger, bad posture can cause stiff joints and chronic pain. However, did you know that it can also impact your bite alignment? Read on as we go over how your posture influences the alignment of your bite and what you can do to improve both!
Connecting Posture & Bite Alignment
The body is a complex system, but it’s no secret that it’s all connected and intertwined. For example, an injury to your ankle will likely change how you walk, which can lead to knee or hip pain. Similarly, holding your arm in a certain position for too long can cause the surrounding shoulder, back, and neck muscles to tighten and become sore in response. Just like these examples, your posture can influence your bite alignment.
If your spine is arched or bent in a strange position as you read a book, watch TV, or look at your phone, the rest of your body adjusts accordingly. The curve of your back means that your head will sit farther back on your spinal column, while your lower jaw will be pushed forward. You may not notice it in the moment, but the increased pressure will shift the jaws out of alignment gradually over time and build up tension in the jaw joints.
The Effects of Bad Posture & a Misaligned Bite
Bad posture means much more than just a sore jaw! The negative effects can cascade into many different areas and cause problems like:
- Bite issues and tooth damage: A different position for your jaws means a different position for your teeth. Now that the lower teeth are closer to the upper front teeth when the jaws are together, the enamel will wear down faster and they’ll be more at risk of chipping or cracking.
- Jaw stiffness and TMJ disorder: Misaligned jaws take more effort to bring together, which places more stress on the jaw joints. This will inevitably lead to a sore, stiff jaw. Potentially, you may even develop TMJ disorder.
- A delay in your orthodontic treatment: If you’re currently undergoing orthodontic treatment to correct crooked teeth or bite problems, or plan to in the future, having bad posture can lengthen how long it takes to achieve the results you’re looking for.
Tips for Improving Your Posture
Thankfully, these issues can be easily avoided if you take the right steps to protect your posture. The most important this is to be mindful of how you’re sitting or standing, but you can also try:
- Lifting your chest up and rolling your shoulders back and down.
- Taking a few deep breaths, making sure to fully expand your lungs
- Tightening your stomach muscles to support your core and relieve pressure from your back
- Making an imaginary straight vertical line between your ears and hips
Of course, your posture is just one of many factors in your daily life that can influence your bite alignment. However, when you make sure to practice good posture, both your smile and the rest of your body will thank you!
About the Practice
At Super Braces of Lawrence, we’re committed to convenient, affordable, comfortable, and high-quality care for smiles of all ages. That’s why we offer a wide range of orthodontic services to meet your unique needs and goals for achieving better oral health. Our 100% personalized treatments can help you overcome any type of bite issue, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, and more! To learn more about improving your bite, we can be contacted via our website or at (978) 794-0000.