{"id":1425,"date":"2013-03-14T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-14T18:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/somatics.com\/wordpress\/the-effects-of-jaw-tension-is-the-gag-on-you\/"},"modified":"2013-03-14T11:25:00","modified_gmt":"2013-03-14T18:25:00","slug":"the-effects-of-jaw-tension-is-the-gag-on-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.somatics.com\/wordpress\/the-effects-of-jaw-tension-is-the-gag-on-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The Effects of Jaw Tension — Is the gag on you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nJaw tension and jaw movement<\/b><\/span>
\nare a very interesting pivotal point<\/b><\/span>
\nin the consideration of balanced movement and stance<\/b><\/span>
\nbut also of<\/span> physiological health<\/b><\/span>
\nand emotional well-being.<\/b><\/span>
\n
<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/p>\n

\nself-relief program<\/a> (video)<\/span><\/div>\n

\nOur balance depends much upon <\/b>
\nwhere our jaw (mandible) is <\/b>
\nin relation to our cranium:<\/b><\/p>\n

clenched or loosely supported<\/b>
\nmandible forward, head back<\/b>
\nor mandible back, head down and forward <\/b>
\nor tighter more on one side than on the other?<\/b><\/p>\n

or with our cranium well centered and <\/b>
\nmoving in a well-balanced, well-supported way<\/b>
\nby our free and gently elongated neck?<\/b><\/p>\n

or pulling our head down and forward <\/b>
\nas our lower jaw (mandible) pulls back and up<\/b>
\nseemingly by itself<\/b>
\nwith no doing on our part.<\/b>
\n
<\/b>
\nLIKE A NUTCRACKER.<\/b><\/p>\n

and the position of our jaw reflects our physiological state and shape <\/b>
\nour arousal state<\/b>
\nour emotional state <\/b>
\nour attitude<\/b>
\nour readiness for what’s next<\/b>
\nor our unreadiness<\/b>
\nour “running” old memories<\/b>
\nas our best understanding of the present<\/b>
\nwithout also facing the mystery as <\/b>
\nthis living moment.<\/b><\/p>\n

The View from Outside<\/b><\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n

The upper jaw, part of the cranium, connects most intimately with the spine and back (dorsal aspect) of the body.<\/p>\n

The lower jaw, the mandible, connects most intimately with the body-core and front (ventral aspect) of the body.<\/p>\n

Miscoordination of the jaws, in biting, chewing, and rest position, causes a misfit between the front and back of the body.  That misfit causes chronic muscular tensions in the trunk and disturbances to breathing, swallowing, balance, posture and movement.  Jaws are a big deal.  I say more about that, below.<\/p>\n

But for now, I think it’s time we looked something squarely in the face, viz.,
\n“the grimace”.<\/p>\n

The grimace goes with the gag reflex,
\nbut also with coughing,
\nrevulsion, disgust (pulling back of the tongue),
\nand suppressed anger (pulling back the mandible in suppression of the urge to bite someone
\nor perhaps say something really<\/i> rude),
\nall involving changes to the face, jaw position, the inside of the mouth, and throat.<\/p>\n

And to all that, I say, “Blecch!”
\nBut, there we are. We might as well look at it,
\nparticularly if all that describes us<\/i>.<\/p>\n

So, the first question:<\/p>\n

Where does our lower jaw go on such occasions?<\/p>\n

Why, up and back.<\/p>\n

The teeth clench,
\nthe bones of the face compress and the face gets harder, 
\nthe tongue pulls back in and presses against the soft palate.<\/p>\n

The head pulls forward and down, 
\nthe top of the head tips back  
\nand the neck vertebrae come forward,
\nclosing the throat passage from behind.<\/p>\n

It’s a response that says,
\n“Nothing’s going in
\nand something may be coming out!”<\/p>\n

\n<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

Back to the jaws.<\/p>\n

Clenching the teeth involves the muscles of the sides of the head
\npulling the lower jaw (mandible)
\nup against the teeth of the upper jaw (the maxilla),
\nso the muscles of clenching pull the sides (and therefore, top) of the head down
\nand the bottom of the head, up
\nin a big squeeze.<\/p>\n

The face shows it.<\/p>\n

More is happening, however.<\/p>\n

With the closing of the throat
\ncomes also
\ndepression of the front of the chest —
\na cave-in
\nand compression around the base of the head
\nwhere the spinal cord enters (foramen magnum)
\nproducing a sensation registered, somatically,
\nas shrinking inward along our length
\nand possibly, queasiness.<\/p>\n

The change of mouth, throat, and chest shape
\nimpair breathing at two focal locations
\nthe throat
\nand the chest.<\/p>\n

Well, this is a jolly state to be in.<\/p>\n

The question arises:
\n“What is a more wholesome resting position of the lower jaw?”<\/p>\n

I say,
\n“It is hanging freely, floating beneath the upper teeth
\nand somewhat forward.”<\/p>\n

\nself-relief program<\/a> (video)<\/span><\/div>\n

\nThe exact amount of forward depends upon the inclination of the head
\nbut in the neutral or balanced head position,
\nmy provisional stand is, “the incisors match up”
\nalthough it’s an error to think of the jaws having a fixed rest position.
\nIt’s more that they have a floating equilibrium that changes with head movement and position.<\/p>\n

When our head is more inclined (forehead up)
\nthe lower jaw hangs back, somewhat
\nas in the gag reflex
\nor worry.<\/p>\n

When our head is somewhat bowed (forehead forward)
\nour lower jaw hangs forward, somewhat.<\/p>\n

When our head is balanced between forward and back
\nour lower jaw hangs freely at some floating suspension point,
\nour facial bones feel the downward pull of the lower jaw
\nand they separate, somewhat
\nand our face softens.<\/p>\n

Our chest spontaneously reshapes, sternum higher
\nbreathing fuller, <\/p>\n

and we sit at a new balance.<\/p>\n

Some contrast with the gag reflex, eh?<\/p>\n

So when we are revolting against life,
\nwhen life seems revolting to us
\nwhen “our bodies” are in revolt
\nor we are confronted with a revolting body,
\nand the emotion of revulsion closes in
\nwe clench our teeth, somewhat,
\nor maybe a lot. (TMJ Dysfunction\/bruxism)<\/p>\n

Repressed anger involves a pulling back of the mandible (lower jaw)
\nand clenching of the teeth,
\nthe proverbial “gnashing of teeth”,
\ncombined with a pasted-on smile
\nreally, a grimace
\nnot a true grin,
\nreally the action of repressing rage and the urge
\nto bite someone or, as I said,
\nsay something really<\/i> rude.<\/p>\n

An alternate cause of tightening the jaws in a held position
\nis pain in the jaws or teeth, whatever the cause,
\nwhich triggers the grimace response
\nof pulling the lower jaw back and up
\nor clenching the face.
\nPain of sufficient intensity or duration
\ncan cause long-term conditioning that outlasts the pain
\nand causes lingering pain of its own. <\/p>\n

The same emotional and functional physiological changes occur from either cause.
\nIt’s not an all-or-none reaction, either, but a matter of degree
\naccording to the pain or emotional state, involved. <\/p>\n

A person may experience manifestations of narrowed air passages:
\nhe may snore
\nor have sleep apnea
\nor just grind his teeth at night
\nfrightening his spouse
\nand nearby neighbors.<\/p>\n

\n<\/embed><\/object><\/div>\n

Freeing our jaws to hang more freely
\nenables us to feel and release accumulated grimace or pain-cringe
\nand enables us to move toward overall more wholesome health.
\nOur face shows it. <\/p>\n

AH-MAIN<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nIf you want to know how wholesome your own jaw position is,<\/span>
\ntake a walk and do this:<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nAs you walk, slowly nod your head in a “yes” movement <\/span>and feel how freely your lower jaw changes hanging position.<\/span> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nIf it doesn’t change position very slightly but freely, you have excessive jaw tension.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Instead of a jaw splint, night guard or “appliance”, develop control of your own jaw muscles by the means provided, here, so you don’t need these devices. It’s a faster (and more economical) approach to solving the problem.<\/p>\n

MORE ON CAUSES:
\narticles on TMJ Dysfunction \/TMD<\/a>
\nCauses of TMJ Dysfunction<\/a><\/p>\n

PRACTICAL ACTION:
\ninstructional video<\/a> <\/p>\n

preparation for the instructional video, above, if needed
\nself-relief program<\/a> (video)<\/p>\n

___________
\nLawrence Gold is a certified Clinical Somatic Educator (Hanna somatic education(R)) in practice since 1990 with two years’ experience on-staff at a community hospital wellness and rehabilitation center in California. He has experience addressing TMJ Dysfunction (TMD) and sleep apnea. Read the articles linked, above, for fit to your condition — and contact Lawrence by email, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Add your comment — what you would like to ask or tell.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jaw tension and jaw movement are a very interesting pivotal point in the consideration of balanced movement and stance but also of physiological health and emotional well-being. self-relief program (video) Our balance depends much upon  where our jaw (mandible) is  in relation to our cranium: clenched or loosely supported mandible forward, head back or mandible back, … <\/p>\n

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