Whether working out, dancing, eating dinner, lifting, relaxing, running, sitting, marching, or sleeping, we hear from our coaches, mentors, doctors, and mothers to keep good posture. Almost every adult has had a backache at some point and for a short while, we remember that posture impacts our spine.
Bad posture can cause aches and pains. It can cause pinched nerves and inflamed joints and muscles. Over long periods of time, bad posture can cause damage that requires medical intervention. But it’s not just slumping that can cause issues and it’s not just our backs that are affected.
How You Walk Can Affect the Way You Chew Gum
The human body is fascinating as everything is connected like a fine-tuned machine. If your feet have an issue and you don’t stride correctly, no matter how you compensate for the problem, it will affect not only your feet, but your ankles as well. Whatever happens to your ankles, impacts your knees – your gait will be off. Knee issues affect your hips and pelvis which can cause pain, not only there, but also in your lower back. As your hips and pelvis twist out of alignment, your lower spine is then out of place and it, in turn, affects your middle and then upper spine. Those parts of your spine can influence the placement of your ribs. They also affect your shoulders and neck. The shoulders being out of alignment may restrict or cause pain when using your arms. The vertebra in your neck directly affects your skull and jaw. And obviously, your skull and jaw impact your bite.
So yes, how you walk affects how you chew. But even if you walk just fine, how you sit, stand and lay can also change the way your teeth line up. If left uncorrected, it can cause damage to your teeth, even changing their position over time. Posture is important for so many reasons that we never think about. The next time you find yourself slumping, or your shoulders or back is aching, realize that your posture is impacting more than your torso, it is affecting your skull, jaw, and your bite.
Lining Things Back Up
The good news is you can start right now to correct your posture. Get your gait checked at any athletic shoe store or a podiatrist or sports medicine doctor can assess and give you orthotics to correct, if needed. When sitting, standing or working out, make sure your shoulders are down, chest up and imagine a rod that runs straight down your spine from the top of your head. Stretch. Practice yoga, tai chi, or Pilates to help with posture.
Consult with a professional about your spine’s alignment and get treatment or physical therapy to correct any issues. See your dentist to have your bite analyzed and to check to see if repairs needed to any of your teeth. Having your bite out of alignment can cause issues with your jaw and neck as well as give you headaches.
Pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. Don’t let pain in your teeth or jaw continue. We are here to help! Call Danville Family Dentistry at 317-745-4400 for an appointment. You can also check our website for frequently asked questions.
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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