Massage Therapy and Oral Health - What's the Connection?

Everyone wants to maintain their oral health into old age, but most of us dread trips to the dentist. There's just something about seeing a dentist that is so much more stressful than going to a regular doctor, even if you know that the problem is not a big one!

Fortunately, there are so many things you can do to improve your oral health. Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, using a tongue scraper, drinking plenty of water and avoiding too many sugary/starchy foods can all help in maintaining your oral health. You might be surprised to learn that massage therapy, which people usually associate with bodily health, rather than dental health, also has some oral health benefits.

Massage Therapy for Jaw Tension

Many people clench their jaw all the time without realizing it. We're often engaged in doing stressful things throughout the day, and the body might react with jaw clenching which can lead to pain in the jaw/mouth area. You might be clenching your jaw in your sleep, while working out, while concentrating on something, while driving etc.

Clenching your jaw puts a lot of pressure on your teeth. It can lead to flattened/cracked teeth over time, and it can also lead into gum tenderness or recession. Massage therapy, especially around the temples, the jaw and the neck, can help to reduce this tension which you might be carrying around without even realizing it.

Massage Therapy for TMJ Disorder

TMJ disorder refers to a disorder of the temporomandibular joint i.e. the place where your jaw connects to your skull. Pain in this joint is caused by teeth grinding, poor posture, stress, muscle tension or injury. In addition to pain, you might experience a clicking in the jaw, pain in the ears and headaches. TMJ disorder can wear down the teeth, change your bite and affect your gums.

However, massage therapy in Jacksonville, Florida can be extremely useful in treating TMJ disorder. Massage therapy is great for reducing muscular tension, de-stressing and improving posture over time. By treating the causes of TMJ disorder, you can treat its effects on your oral health.

Oral Blood Circulation and it's Benefits

Good blood circulation can help improve health in every part of the body, and oral health is no exception. Your blood is responsible for bringing oxygen and nutrients to every part of your body, including your mouth. And the more oxygen and nutrients your mouth receives, the healthier it's going to be. Good blood circulation keeps your gums healthy, helps your mouth to heal after dental work, reduces inflammation and keeps your jaw, face and tongue functioning smoothly.

Massage therapy helps to increase blood flow to every part of the body, including the mouth. As a result, it can help to improve the state of your gums, reduce oral inflammation and help your mouth to heal after dental work.

The Perils of Acidic Saliva

In general, your saliva is supposed to be neutral or mildly alkaline. However, this can change when you're under a lot of stress, snacking on sugary foods, drinking a lot of coffee/soda or taking certain medications. If your saliva becomes acidic due to these problems, it can erode your dental enamel, increase cavities and inflame your gums.

Stress is one of the main reasons why people get acidic saliva, but it is often overlooked. Massage therapy in Jacksonville, Florida can help a great deal in relaxing, de-stressing and calming the nervous system. As a result, you'll find that your saliva production normalizes and a healthy pH balance is restored in your mouth.

Massage Targets Stress

Massage therapy is a great way to manage stress levels which can have a negative impact on dental health. Not only does stress lead to jaw clenching and teeth grinding, but it can also decrease saliva flow and increase the risk of cavities and bad breath. Plus, your immune response becomes weaker when you're stressed, and this can lead into gum inflammation and gingivitis.

Also, keep in mind that stress leads you to constantly make bad choices, such as eating sugary foods, smoking and drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, all of which are bad for your teeth. Alcohol dries out the mouth and increases acidity while smoking reduces blood flow, slows healing and stains the teeth. Coffee weakens enamel and causes staining while sugar leads to cavities and gum inflammation.

Massage therapy reduces stress which directly prevents jaw clenching and improves saliva flow. But it also has a strong, indirect effect. When you're not stressed, you tend to make healthier choices, such as less sugar, caffeine, smoking and alcohol. This means you're likely to do a lot less damage to your teeth.

Massage Therapy for Posture

In our modern world, we are constantly hunched over our computers, our phones and other screens, which can lead into poor posture. And although you may not realize it, bad posture can affect your oral health. It can lead into jaw pain, jaw clicking, TMJ disorder, headaches and facial pain.

Massage therapy can have immediate as well as long-term effects on posture, thus improving overall health and mobility. And once your posture improves, your neck and shoulder muscles relax, as does your jaw and face. This means less grinding, better teeth and improved gum health.

Overall Benefits of Massage Therapy

There's a reason why massage therapy always makes its way into people's wellness routines. By simply taking an hour away from your normal life, you can experience intense relaxation and come out of it feeling refreshed, with new ideas.

In addition to how great massage feels, it's also great for your health. It relaxes your muscles, relieves aches and pains, reduces stress and improves blood flow. And if you have any dental concerns, then it makes sense to get massage therapy to reinforce your dental hygiene.

If you're searching for "massage near me" in Jacksonville, Florida, Contact us today to schedule your massage at The Wellness Hub. Our therapists will work with you to come up with a massage therapy treatment plan to improve your overall wellness, including your oral health.



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We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and beyond.

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