Neck pain and dental health: a relationship to be taken seriously

It may seem surprising, but dental problems can actually be the cause of your neck pain. The lower jaw is in fact connected to the skull by means of joints. However, if these joints are not functioning properly, it is obvious that pain can spread freely to your neck.

Cervical spine: an area where the dysfunction of certain areas of our body manifests itself

First of all, you should know that neck pain is mainly due to our addiction to electronic objects that force us to regularly lean our head forward. In this case, we advise you to reduce the time spent in front of your telephone and to adjust your office chair so that your neck vertebrae are not constantly solicited.

We must also be aware that our cervical vertebrae are not limited to the vertebrae of our neck, but are linked to several other regions of our body. It is a central area where our nervous system, our digestive system, our respiratory system, our musculoskeletal system, but also our ventilatory system meet.

Pain that occurs as a result of a dysfunction in one of these areas can therefore easily spread to the cervical spine and affect it.

What causes neck pain?

The discomfort can be caused by a herniated disc, by an inflammation of the tendons or by a muscle contracture. The causes are very diverse so that we also find dysfunctions of the joints of the mouth among them. So don't be surprised if your doctor diagnoses you with a dental problem!

What are the main symptoms of joint dysfunction in the mouth?

The main symptoms of cervical problems include acute pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck and temples. Some people also suffer from a progressive decrease in the range of action of their lower jaw joints. In this case, we advise you to contact your dentist to schedule a future appointment.

You should know that this type of dysfunction is mainly caused by a trauma (a shock on the chin, a dental extraction having caused a luxation of the jaw, a badly placed crown having caused an imbalance of the closing of the mouth, …).

Secondary symptoms of dysfunction of the joints of the mouth

People who tend to bite their nails or clench their teeth too often due to stress are very likely to develop this type of dysfunction since too much pressure is put on the jaw. People who are prone to bruxism (grinding of the teeth during sleep) are quite frequently exposed to neck pain.

What are the solutions to reduce and gradually eliminate your neck pain?

First of all, you should know that it is quite possible that the pain may disappear for a while before suddenly returning. It is therefore possible that a consultation with an osteopath is not sufficient to resolve your neck pain and that you should consider another avenue.

We can therefore only advise you to make an appointment with your dentist who will administer an effective treatment. During your consultation, he will probably prescribe a night splint.

This medical device is made from a resin plate thermoformed on the impression of your teeth. The mouthpiece must be worn every night for an improvement to be noticed. This will allow you to relieve the pain since your joints will be put at rest.

The goal is to gradually restore the balance of your jaws so that no pain can radiate to your neck area. This type of treatment usually lasts 6 months, but your dentist may decide to extend this period if necessary.

Complementary care to the treatment administered by your dentist

You should also know that rehabilitation sessions can be administered if needed. These sessions should be done in conjunction with your treatment to speed up the healing process. Once the treatment is complete, you will only need to have a dental check-up every year.

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