TMJ pain has a particular quality to it. It shows up as jaw soreness, ear pain that isn't actually your ear, headaches that radiate from your temple, a jaw that clicks or locks. Sometimes all of the above on the same morning. It's distracting, it's persistent, and it has a habit of being misdiagnosed as something else for months before anyone connects the dots. If you've been told you have...
Read MoreIf you'd told most people five years ago that sticking tape over their mouth before bed was good for their health, they'd have looked at you sideways. Then a Stanford study on nasal breathing got attention, a few prominent podcasters started talking about it, and suddenly everyone's searching for sleep mouth tape. The concept isn't actually new. Breathing specialists and sleep researchers have discussed the downsides of chronic mouth breathing...
Read MoreMany people may occasionally grind their teeth at night without any issues, but chronic grinding can lead to serious problems, including dental damage, headaches, and jaw pain. If you wake up every morning with jaw tension or mysterious tooth pain, it may be because of severe teeth grinding (bruxism). You can't always stop grinding your teeth while sleeping, but there are steps you can take to minimize the overall risk...
Read MoreWearing a retainer keeps your teeth straight long after braces, but also traps bacteria, plaque, and food particles in the process. Taking a minute to clean your retainer every day can make a big difference in how it feels and smells. Cleaning your retainer will help preserve oral health, retain your orthodontic investment, and maintain your retainer. Whether you wear a Hawley retainer, clear plastic retainers, or Invisalign aligners, you...
Read MoreYou spent months — maybe years — in braces. You did the appointments, the tightening visits, the list of foods you couldn't eat. The braces finally come off and your teeth look exactly how they were supposed to. Then your orthodontist hands you a retainer and says something like: you'll need to wear this indefinitely. Indefinitely. After all of that. It's understandable to feel like that's a lot. It's also...
Read More
