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Bad Posture and Heavy Heads

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In my previous blog article, the significance of jaw position and fatigued muscles and their relationship to Tempromandiular Joint Disorder (TMD) was discussed.  I’d like to pick up where we left off by adding another piece to the contributing factor puzzle – posture.  For various reasons, people develop postural problems.  A common posture problem familiar to chiropractors, physical therapists and personal trainers is called Upper Crossed Syndrome.  You see people with this classic bad posture all the time.  Their backs are hunched over and their heads are in a pronounced forward position in front of their necks instead of balanced over the center of their bodies.

Upper Crossed Syndrome

Upper Crossed Syndrome

Such posture can be the result of chronically poor body positions while working (like dentists hunching over patients or office workers over their computers).  Breathing problems and poor sleep positions are other causes of Upper Crossed Syndrome.  How is this a contributing factor for TMD?   Well, for every inch forward of normal that the head is held forward, the muscles of the neck and back have to work as if they are carrying an extra ten pounds!   The result can be tender muscles and the entire jaw + skull + muscle + nerve “stomatognathic” system is out of balance.  People with such postures commonly complain of TMD, migraines, head and neck pain as well as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).    

Work Station Posture

Work Station Posture

Check out this article on “Upper Crossed Syndrome and the 42 Pound Head”  to learn more.  If you have questions about Upper Crossed Syndrome please contact us at 908.359.6655 or at our website www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com

Dr. Nadler Lectures at SMC

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This past Thursday evening, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Diabetes Support Group at the Somerset Medical Center.  The title of the talk was “Diabetes in Dentistry –What You Need To Know.”  Two themes were emphasized during the hour-long lecture.

First, all systems and organs in the body are connected.  And, in this case, diabetics are at risk for more severe periodontal infections than the general population.  In addition, uncontrolled periodontal disease actually aggravates the diabetes as well as the reverse.

Second, it’s all about prevention.   Those with diabetes often have xerostomia or “dry mouth.“  So, not only do diabetics have a compromised ability to fight infections, butdry mouth also contributes to an increased risk of decay and gum disease.  As a result, cavities and gum disease can progress rather quickly in these patients.  And, by the time a person realizes that a problem exists, the issue is often quite advanced and requires more aggressive, costly and involved treatment to be addressed.  Prevention through regularly scheduled care  as well as proper home care is the best way to avoid such major problems. 

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The entire lecture as well as the questions and answers segment that followed was videotaped.  It will be on the hospital television channel as well as online at www.somervilletv.com under “Live TV.”

If you have any questions about diabetes and dentistry, it will be my pleasure to answer them.   I can be reached in the office @ 908.359.6655 or online at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com  

 

Time to LOVE yourself!

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Time to LOVE yourself!

by: Danielle Wright

In today’s society, it’s hard to imagine someone not “loving” themselves.  We have been taught that we are “owed” whatever we want, that we deserve it, etc… Well, not everyone has fallen into the trap of this “new American model”.

There are still those of us who constantly put others first, sharing of themselves, sometimes to their own detriment.  To you, I applaud you, and also am here to tell you to take some time for yourself!  I, too, am this person.  I, too, let my well of giving become empty because I’d rather give to someone else than myself.  Now – don’t get me wrong – it’s not because I don’t love myself, or am depressed, or self-deprecating.  It’s how I was raised, and how something I’ve really grown to love about myself – how much I have to give and share with others!

love-heartIf you’re anything like me, you forget to even schedule the smallest things for yourself (like going to the dentist… Thank Goodness for Dr. Nadler!), because other people’s needs are on the forefront of your mind and energy.  So let me share some things I’ve learned about making a BALANCE for myself – so I still feel healthy at all times, no matter how much of myself I’m giving with others.

Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and began some major life changes.  I had never really had to think or put effort into what I was eating, because I was on a constant “diet”, so it was always some low calorie bar or meal, full of preservatives and chemicals.  So not only was I eating Gluten, I was also eating tons of toxins.  The first thing my Doctor/Nutritionist and I talked about was that it was easier for me if I had foods “spelled out” of what I could and couldn’t eat – that’s where “Eat Right for Your Type” came in.  This book breaks food into THREE main categories – Fuel, Neutral, and POISON – and did that ever wake me up!  I was putting poison in my body – not just the processed foods I was eating, but natural foods that my body didn’t know how to breakdown in a healthy way.   Because of this, I was having to focus MUCH more on myself than I was used to, constantly thinking about what I had to make to pack for lunch, or the biggest one – BREAKFAST – I was so used to just grabbing one of those horribly processed bars and running to class/work.

Focusing on my eating started a tailspin of caring about ME!   Healthy/clean eating, more exercise, yoga, meditation, even investing in personal training!   All of these things I’ve invested in myself have made it easier to give of my time and energy to others – which to me is a WIN-WIN situation.

So, take care of yourself AS MUCH as you take care of others and you’ll have something left for you at the end of the day!

Want to get your sweetie FREE Flowers on Valentine’s?

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Designs for Dental Health! 
A Valentine Day Event Contest! 

We want to make your Valentine Day Special! Just like our page on Facebook, and if you already like it, then share this picture. 
In order to enter, you will need to get a family or friend member to like us also. Then on Feb. 12, 2013, we will draw for one lucky winner that will get Flowers delivered to the person that they love (just tell us where to send them, they’ll be delivered on the 14th.)

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Meet our Patient of the Month for January 2013!

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The Designs for Dental Health Team picked Renee Mancuso as January’s PATIENT OF THE MONTH!

Renee was picked because she is one of our friendliest patients.  We always smile when we see her name on the schedule.  She also has a strong commitment to her dental health as well as her family’s.   And, she has been a patient with us for SIXTEEN years – since 1997!  We honored Renee with a gift card to AMAZON.COM.

Get in the running for being one of our PATIENTS OF THE MONTH by scheduling your appointment TODAY!

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Improve Your Workouts And Lessen TMJ Pain With Six Exercises

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Mariano Rocabado, DPT is a physical therapist who specializes in problems with the head, neck and spines. His work with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ or TMD) is very extensive, and he developed an exercise program that is taught to all over the world to address postural relationships with the head to neck, neck to shoulders and lower jaw to upper jaw. The objective of this home exercise program is for patients to learn a new postural position, fight the soft tissue memory of the old position, restore the original muscle length-tension relationships, restore normal joint mobility and restore normal body balance.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a term which encompasses inflammatory disorders of the jaw. Symptoms of TMJ may include headache, earache, neck pain, jaw tenderness and clicking or aching facial muscles. TMJ usually occurs when the muscles used for chewing and your jaw joint are out of balance.  The cause of TMJ is most commonly improper alignment of your teeth, and is exacerbated by stress and tooth grinding.

What is most interesting is that when the body’s posture is corrected, amazing things happen with regard to strength, flexibility and balance.  Similarly, there are bite appliances which place the jaw in its “physiologic” neuromuscular position.  Such appliances are used not only to treat TMJ but are also worn by athletes of all kinds to improve their performance – golfers, basketball players, football players, etc.  I have seen demonstrations of such “instant” improvements and they are amazing.  Feel free to ask me for a demonstration the next time that you visit the office.

I began using one of these exercises during my workouts in cycle classes which I have grown to love.  These spin classes have been the core of my cardiovascular exercise for many years now.  Proper posture improves performance while exercising and playing sports, and I find that that there is a simple maneuver to help ensure good body position to allow me to get the most of my workouts.  It’s the last exercise in the series described below.

Rocabado advocates that the program be performed by the patient at home, and it consists of six different exercises and six repetitions of each exercise, performed six times per day until symptoms subside. The Rocabado exercises emphasize correct postural position and help to combat the soft tissue memory of your old posture. Perform the exercises one after the other until your session is complete. It will take about one minute.

The six exercises:

  1. Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Position the tip just behind your teeth and take six deep breaths.
  2. Keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth and open and close your mouth six times.
  3. Your tongue remains on the roof of your mouth and two fingers are placed on the chin to open your mouth against gentle resistance. Following that, place your fingers on both sides of your jaw and move the jaw sideways six times.
  4. Place your hands behind your neck and bend your chin down as if nodding your head.
  5. Move your chin down and back as if making a double chin.
  6. Finally, correct your posture by lifting your ribs and chest upward while squeezing your shoulder blades together.

Perform six repetitions of these exercises six times a day.

Give these exercises a try.  If you feel pain while performing these exercises, stop doing them and consider calling us to arrange a TMJ screening or consultation about your symptoms.  If you have questions, feel free to call us at 908.359.6655 or send us an email via our website at www.DesignsForDentalHealth.com

New Year ~ Old Resolution: How Dr. Nadler eats “Clean”

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On January 2, I began my annual nutritional cleansing program as I have done for the past decade and a half.  After a solid month of holiday and party food, I usually have a few pounds to shed and just don’t feel 100 percent.

This year, just like last year, I began the twenty-one day “Clean” program, which I had heard about from another dentist who attends the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, where I also studied.  Not only does this cleanse help me to lose weight – eight pounds so far – but, it also has changed the way I eat entirely.  And, most importantly, this program introduced an awareness of the quality and healthiness of the foods that my family and I eat.

I had never before heard of GMO’s – Genetically Modified Organisms.  These are foods which have been engineered for a variety of reasons to produce more crops, be more insect resistant, be bigger and so forth.  And, there are a growing number of consumers, health professionals and producers who feel that GMO’s can be hazardous to our health.  I guess this is why we see an ever-increasing assortment of organic and gluten-free products and dairy substitutes like almond milk in our grocery stores.

To get a better sense of what has been happening to our food supply, I recommend that you watch a 2008 movie called “Food, Inc.”  This 90-minute documentary created quite a stir in the agribusiness community and was highly rated by critics.  You may also wish to read a short article (read here) entitled “GMO alert:  top 10 genetically modified foods to avoid eating.”

As for the cleanse, the program is rather rigorous as there is only one solid meal per day for three weeks.  Only fresh, non-processed, preferably organic foods are consumed.  After the initial cleanse, different foods are reintroduced to the diet.  This way, you can easily see which foods may be having a negative effect on your health and well-being.  After last year’s cleanse, I learned that dairy (except eggs) were out for me.  I have also eliminated gluten and starches like potatoes.  The result?  More energy, excellent health, much less flab.

So, if this is of interest to you, check out the book CLEAN by AlejandroJunger, M.D.  If you have any questions about this program or my experiences with it, feel free to call me in the office at 908.359.6655 or send an email via our website at www. DesignsForDentalHealth.com

Finding ways to “zen” with Diabetes

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zen-gardenDiabetes patients may reduce depression and emotional problems through mindfulness based cognitive therapy!

For many patients, living with diabetes is no easy task. The day-to-day struggle of controlling the disease can take a toll on one’s mood. Being mindful of the moment may help diabetes patients boost their mental health.

Diabetes patients dealing with emotional problems may benefit from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, according to a recent study.  In mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, patients learn to pay attention to their feelings of stress and depression while developing a new relationship with those feelings.

The idea is to help patients understand their negative feelings, to discover what makes them vulnerable to those feelings and to become aware of the factors that lead to those feelings.

Find out more about finding a “zen” in diabetes here!