TEMPORO-MANDIBULAR JOINT
T.M.J. PAIN
The temporo-mandibular joint has been the subject of debate, discussion, investigation and research for a great many years. Still, there is great controversy to its function and importance, in terms of over all health. As more and more information becomes available, there are many in medicine, dentistry, osteopathy and chiropractic that are now recognizing the very vital association of the T.M.J. with health. Yet, there are many in these same professions who steadfastly refuse to recognize any importance to this most vital mechanism.
The investigations have, for the most part, centered around the temporo-mandibular mechanism itself. They are primarily concerned with pain, usually in the face, head, neck and sometimes arms and hands. Another concern is the clicking in of the joint and the occlusion or meeting of the teeth.
As we understand more about the joint and its function and structure. We found that the sequence of taking food into the mouth, biting on it, chewing it thoroughly and then swallowing it (the feeding sequence) specifically relates to the neurological control of the sequence of the digestive mechanism. When the mouth is opened to accept food, the glands of ingestion are activated. Bitting down on the good causes the valves of the digestive tract to contract, dividing the digestive tract into three sealed chambers, each to process the food in turn. Chewing activates the peristalsis. The cutting actions of lateralizing a front to back movements of the jaw cause a churning action in the stomach and small intestine. This churning action mixes the food with the digestive juices for more complete digestion. Swallowing causes the cardiac valve of the stomach to open to allow the food with the digestive juices for more complete digestion. Swallowing causes the
cardiac valve of the stomach, while reinforcing the closure of the valves of Houston, at the end of the large bowel. This is necessary to prevent the weight of the digested material from opening the valve spontaneously. Phonation (speaking), another jaw function, relaxes the activity of the digestive tract so that it can return to its normal slow rhythmic motion to complete the digestive process.
The T.M.J. and the defense system. When the jaw I clenched, in time of possible danger, the muscles of mastication lock the sutures (joints) of the skull together and increases tension in the cranial dura (covering of the brain and spinal cord) by flexing the sphenoid bone. Thought reactivity with certain pelvic muscles the coccyx and sacrum are pulled forward thus increasing tension in the spinal dura. This action stabilizes the brain and cord in the skull and spine, gives them a resilient wall to bounce off, and literally holds the head on the body.
So we can readily see that the T.M.J. is a most important component in our total health picture. It is impossible to have “only a slight T.M. J. problem”. Every function of the T.M.J. has a dramatic reaction some place else in the body. If you have a chronic health problem related to digestion in any way, you must have the function of the T.M.J. examined and corrected. |
