<\/p>\n
Our balance depends much upon\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
where our jaw (mandible) is\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
in relation to our cranium:<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
clenched or loosely supported<\/b><\/p>\n
mandible forward, head back<\/b><\/p>\n
or mandible back, head down and forward <\/b><\/p>\n
or tighter more on one side than on the other?<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
or with our cranium well centered and\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
moved in a well balanced\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
by our free and gently elongated neck?<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
or pulling our head down and forward <\/b><\/p>\n
as our lower jaw (mandible) pulls back and up<\/b><\/p>\n
seemingly by itself<\/b><\/p>\n
with no doing on our part.<\/b><\/p>\n
\n<\/b> LIKE A NUTCRACKER.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
and the position of our jaw reflects our physiological state and shape <\/b><\/p>\n
our arousal state<\/b><\/p>\n
our emotional state <\/b><\/p>\n
our attitude<\/b><\/p>\n
our readiness for what’s next<\/b><\/p>\n
or our unreadiness<\/b><\/p>\n
our “running” old memories<\/b><\/p>\n
as our best understanding of the present<\/b><\/p>\n
without also facing the mystery as\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
this living moment.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The View from Outside<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The upper jaw, part of the cranium, connects most intimately with the spine and back (dorsal aspect) of the body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The lower jaw, the mandible, connects most intimately with the body-core and front (ventral aspect) of the body.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miscoordination of the jaws, in biting, chewing, and rest position, causes a misfit between the front and back of the body.\u00a0 That misfit causes chronic muscular tensions in the trunk and disturbances to breathing, swallowing, balance, posture and movement.\u00a0 Jaws are a big deal.\u00a0 I say more about that, below.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But for now, I think it’s time we looked something squarely in the face, viz.,<\/p>\n “the grimace”.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The grimace goes with the gag reflex,<\/p>\n but also with coughing,<\/p>\n revulsion, disgust (pulling back of the tongue),<\/p>\n and suppressed anger (pulling back the mandible in supression of the urge to bite someone),<\/p>\n all involving changes to the face, jaw position, the inside of the mouth, and throat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And to all that, I say, “Blecch!”<\/p>\n But, there we are. We might as well look at it,<\/p>\n particularly if all that describes us<\/i>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, the first question:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where does our lower jaw go on such occasions?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why, up and back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The teeth clench,<\/p>\n the bones of the face compress and the face gets harder,<\/p>\n the tongue pulls back in and presses against the soft palate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The head pulls forward and down,<\/p>\n the top of the head tips back<\/p>\n and the neck vertebrae come forward,<\/p>\n closing the throat passage from behind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s a response that says,<\/p>\n “Nothing’s going in<\/p>\n and something may be coming out!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As I said, “Blecch!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back to the jaws.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clenching the teeth involves the muscles of the sides of the head<\/p>\n pulling the lower jaw (mandible)<\/p>\n up against the teeth of the upper jaw (the maxilla),<\/p>\n so the muscles of clenching pull the sides (and therefore, top) of the head down<\/p>\n and the bottom of the head, up<\/p>\n in a big squeeze.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The face shows it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n More is happening, however.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the closing of the throat<\/p>\n comes also<\/p>\n depression of the front of the chest —<\/p>\n a cave-in<\/p>\n and compression around the base of the head<\/p>\n where the spinal cord enters (foramen magnum)<\/p>\n producing a sensation registered, somatically,<\/p>\n as shrinking inward along our length<\/p>\n and possibly, queasiness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The change of mouth, throat, and chest shape<\/p>\n impair breathing at two focal locations<\/p>\n the throat<\/p>\n and the chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Well, this is a jolly state to be in.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The question arises:<\/p>\n “What is a more wholesome resting position of the lower jaw?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I say,<\/p>\n “It is hanging freely, floating beneath the upper teeth<\/p>\n and somewhat forward.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The exact amount of forward depends upon the inclination of the head<\/p>\n but in the neutral or balanced head position,<\/p>\n my provisional stand is, “the incisors match up”<\/p>\n although it’s an error to think of the jaws having a fixed rest position.<\/p>\n It’s more that they have a floating equilibrium that changes with head movement and position.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When our head is more inclined (forehead up)<\/p>\n the lower jaw hangs back, somewhat<\/p>\n as in the gag reflex<\/p>\n or worry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When our head is somewhat bowed (forehead forward)<\/p>\n our lower jaw hangs forward, somewhat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When our head is balanced between forward and back<\/p>\n our lower jaw hangs freely at some floating suspension point,<\/p>\n our facial bones feel the downward pull of the lower jaw<\/p>\n and they separate, somewhat<\/p>\n and our face softens.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our chest spontaneously rehapes, sternum higher<\/p>\n breathing fuller,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and we sit at a new balance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some contrast with the gag reflex, eh?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So when we are revolting against life,<\/p>\n when life seems revolting to us<\/p>\n when “our bodies” are in revolt<\/p>\n or we are confronted with a revolting body,<\/p>\n and the emotion of revulsion closes in<\/p>\n the teeth clench, somewhat,<\/p>\n or maybe a lot. (TMJ Dysfunction\/bruxism)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Repressed anger involves a pulling back of the mandible (lower jaw)<\/p>\n and clenching of the teeth,<\/p>\n the proverbial “gnashing of teeth”,<\/p>\n combined with a pasted-on smile<\/p>\n really, a grimace<\/p>\n not a true grin,<\/p>\n which is really the action of repressing rage and the urge<\/p>\n to bite someone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An alternate cause of tightening the jaws in a held position<\/p>\n is pain in the jaws or teeth, whatever the cause,<\/p>\n which triggers the grimace response<\/p>\n of pulling the lower jaw back and up<\/p>\n or clenching the face.<\/p>\n Pain of sufficient intensity or duration<\/p>\n can cause long-term conditioning that outlasts the pain<\/p>\n and causes lingering pain of its own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The same emotional and functional physiological changes occur from either cause.<\/p>\n It’s not an all-or-none reaction, either, but a matter of degree<\/p>\n according to the pain or emotional state, involved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A person may experience manifestations of narrowed air passages:<\/p>\n he may snore<\/p>\n or have sleep apnea<\/p>\n or just grind his teeth at night<\/p>\n frightening his spouse<\/p>\n or the neighbors.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Freeing our jaws to hang more freely<\/p>\n enables us to feel and release accumulated grimace or pain-cringe<\/p>\n and enables us to move toward overall more wholesome health.<\/p>\n Our face shows it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AH-MAIN<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you want to know how wholesome your own jaw position is,<\/span><\/p>\n take a walk,<\/span><\/p>\n and as you walk, slowly nod your head in a “yes” movement<\/span><\/p>\n and feel how freely your lower jaw changes hanging position.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n MORE ON CAUSES:<\/p>\n articles on TMJ Dysfunction \/TMD<\/a><\/p>\n Causes of TMJ Dysfunction<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n PRACTICAL ACTION:<\/p>\n instructional video<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n preparation for the instructional video, above, if needed<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-R_YwgFuT2uI\/UWNC63SPH9I\/AAAAAAAAAPQ\/_wyl7B_2zns\/s1600\/TMD+Muscle+Pain+Cycle+rdc.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n