Orthodontists who specialize in TMJ and bite issues are a rare breed within the dental profession. When I think of orthodontics, I automatically think of preteens and teenagers wearing braces to correct crooked teeth for cosmetic reasons, and for a beautiful smile. There are even fewer orthodontists focusing on bite, breathing, sleep apnea, unexplained pain syndrome, and brainstem connections. Let me introduce some offbeat upbeat odd dentists who can change your health far better than many MDs.
Albert Einstein said, “The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. If we want to change the world, we have to change our thinking…no problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must to learn to see the world anew.” I got this quote from Paul Greenacre, DDS from Ottawa, Canada with many of his writings on Bite, Breathing, Brainstem, Breastfeeding, and the Biofeedback neurological concept of dental distress.
We have been corresponding – not met yet due to Covid restrictions – on why proper dental bite is vital. I am familiar with these subjects and have written many dental-related articles, see my latest book, AcciDental Blow Up in Medicine, and the dental category articles in my blog. I know I am not a dentist, and cannot fix dental problems. We need offbeat orthodontists who think differently on bites, breathing and brainstem. Here a list of the benefits of correcting misaligned dental bite which correspond with those of Dr. A.C. Fonder, DDS, founder of holistic dentistry, and author, The Dental Distress Syndrome:
- Better breathing so less airway distress, less snoring and less sleep apnea.
- Improved head posture and spinal alignment after palatal expansion and jaw realignment. Improved scoliosis, kyphosis and less back pain.
- Neck aches and tension improved.
- Learning difficulties improve and less ADHD.
- Eliminate migraines and chronic morning headaches and other trigeminal nervous system issues like scalp pain or head itchiness.
- Less menstrual difficulties and erectile dysfunction. Improved fertility.
- Improved autonomic nervous system functioning resulting in better digestion, improve constipation and GI problems. Improved ability to relax, refresh and restore bodies and minds.
- Faster recovery from PTSD, concussions, whiplash, sports trauma and car accident injuries.
- Recovery from fatigue, anxiety, depression and mental or mood disorders.
- Less cold hands and feet and may improve thyroid function.
- Recover from some trigeminal neuralgias and reduce epileptic seizures.
- Improved balance and equilibrium.
- Improved ENT related problems and ear pain.
- Improved athletic and scholastic performance.
- Improved pregnancy outcomes.
- Less jaw-related TMJ and facial pain.
- General relaxation and feeling of reduced stress.
Past ENT specialist Henry Uhlemeyer, MD wrote, as reported by Greenacre, that if the mandible (lower jaw) is not physiologically positioned, stress hormones are automatically stimulated, muscles tense, blood pressure rises to overcome resistance, pulse quickens, respiration is shallow and loses efficiency. The body raises blood sugar to fuel emergency, release adrenalin, and increase the pain threshold. In his opinion, the mandible is the electrical control coordinator for the whole body: the mandible has to be in a physiologically balanced relationship to make the whole body work as one balanced unit.
In addition, the trigeminal cranial nerve from the brainstem is where the nerve circuitry for breastfeeding begins. The motion of breastfeeding activates the touching of the tip of the tongue, which contains the 3rd division of the trigeminal nerve. This is the basis of the neurological connection of mother and infant, with the trigeminal nerve helping activate the dominant cranial nerve in the brainstem. When the trigeminal nerve is under stress, it releases substance P, a noxious neurotransmitter factor affecting cell membrane function, metabolic disruption and involved in chronic pain. The trigeminal nerve travels all the way down the cervical spine, as far as C4, and is right next to the vagus nerve in the brainstem. The tongue is innervated by the trigeminal, vagus, and cranial nerves 7, 9 and 12.
But wait, there’s more! I have witnessed Dr. Gary Wiele, DDS from St. Louis, and Dr. Donald R. Moeller, MD, DDS from Georgia, correct the bite of Parkinson’s-like patients with severe hand tremors almost disappearing. Dr. Moeller wrote, “Intraoral devices with specific modifications are able to rapidly modify the gait, stability and posture of some patients.” He coauthored a dental journal article on how similar intraoral devices can reduce nightmares, headaches and sleep disruptions in PTSD patients.
I additionally thank Dr. Felix Liao, DDS for his book, Six-Foot Tiger, Three-Foot Cage: Take Charge of Your Health by Taking Charge of Your Mouth, which connects the dots between mouth structure and total health. “Six-foot tiger” is the medical, dental, mood, and financial consequences of a “three-foot cage” — a mouth that’s too small for the tongue. Oxygen deficiency, poor sleep, and more can result.
This may be more than you want to know about bite, breathing and the brainstem. The position of the bite influences and affects many physiological manifestations and requires specialized orthodontic dentists to evaluate and correct dental distress signals. Acupuncture Meridian Assessment (AMA) can easily detect bite-related problems, which are often exaggerated by parasite infections causing bruxism – grinding teeth – showing up in the lymphatic system of the jaw. Parasites, dental distress, vagus-trigeminal nerve disturbances, and the brain are inseparably interconnected. This is a new concept of “thinking differently” about medical-dental connections, thanks to Dr. Greenacre, Dr. Moeller, and other offbeat upbeat odd dentists. Learn more at my upcoming August AMA Training Seminar.
