Houston TMJ Dentist, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF found an article in Business Insider that discusses the best positions to sleep in for your body’s health. Generally speaking, the article states that the causes of many aches and pains or sleepless nights may have a lot to do with placement of your head, back, arms and legs. According to Cynthia Vaughn, an Austin chiropractor, the best sleeping positions are on your back or side. She suggest if sleeping on your back to put a pillow under your knees which will place the legs in more direct line with the lower back so it is flattened against the mattress and better supported. If you sleep on your side, Vaughn suggests to slightly bend the leg and place a pillow between the knees but to avoid the full fetal position.
However, those who snore or have sleep apnea should either not sleep on their backs or have an oral sleep appliance or CPAP machine.
“It is clinically accepted that a change in sleep position may benefit the systematic health of individuals,” Australian researchers wrote in a 2007 study published in the peer-reviewed publication, “The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice.” These sleeping patterns can have an affect on ones TMJ and jaw joint issues which also affect the neck. Whereas it is not easy for individuals to change their sleep position, it is of importance to one’s overall health.
If you have questions about TMJ or Dental Sleep Appliances please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS,FAGD, LVIF at 713-668-2289.
