A beautiful healthy smile is desired by all and is appreciated by everyone. Behind that pearly white smile lies a strong framework – 'the jawbone' also known as 'the mandible'.
The jawbone is a less appreciated structure that plays far more significant role than just holding our teeth in place. It is a marvel of nature's creation. The intricate design and function of the jawbone makes it versatile, allowing it to perform a wide range of tasks, from chewing and speaking to supporting the facial structure. Its unique combination of strength, flexibility, and precision is a testament to the wonders of biological engineering.
Jawbone or mandible, is a horse-shoe shaped bone that is suspended from the skull with the help of a set of strong muscles and ligaments. It is a dense bone majorly made up of compact bone, which makes it strong and its extra-ordinary shape makes it lightweight, allowing us to bite, chew, and speak with ease.1
The jawbone is constantly adapting and remodeling throughout our lives in response to the forces placed upon it. Every time we chew, it experiences stress areas, that are repaired by our body, making it even stronger. This dynamic process is essential for maintaining a healthy jawbone and a functional bite.
Jawbone has been considered in many ways to define beauty standard in all cultures. It is an important structure that defines the personality of a person and its shape and build can add drama to the character of a person as more masculine or feminine, or as more gentle or domineering.2
In many Western cultures, a defined jawline is often seen as a symbol of strength, confidence, and masculinity. However, beauty standards can vary depending on specific cultural groups and individual preferences. Eastern Cultures: In some Eastern cultures, a more rounded or softer facial structure is often considered attractive, especially in women.
However, a weakened jawbone can have a domino effect on our oral health, appearance, confidence and over-all well-being. Poor oral hygiene, gum disease, and tooth loss can all contribute to jawbone deterioration.
When teeth are missing, the bone can no longer receive the stimulation it needs to stay healthy, leading to bone resorption. This not only affects the integrity of the remaining teeth but can also alter facial structure, causing a sunken aged appearance, and wrinkles.
The jawbone maintains the Facial aesthetics, maintaining youthful look of the face. With increasing age, degradation of the bone occurs resulting in sunken and hollow facial features.
However, the connection between the jawbone and oral health goes beyond just structure. Jawbone provides a strong foundation for our teeth, preventing them from becoming loose or shifting. This, in turn, helps maintain proper occlusion, which is essential for good oral hygiene and preventing future dental problems.3
The impact of healthy jawbone on well-being extends far beyond oral cavity. Studies have shown a link between jawbone alignment and sleep apnea. Smaller size of jawbone, also known as 'Micrognathia', and prolonged deleterious habits like mouth-breathing can disturb the positioning of the jaws. This can restrict the airway, leading to sleep disturbances, lack of oxygen saturation and daytime fatigue.
An imbalance in harmony of the muscles holding the jawbone in place can lead to poor posture, disturbed occlusion and disturbed sleep pattern.
Mandible is one of the most commonly fractured facial bone and is highly prone to multi-site fractures due to its ring like structure. Depending on the site of fracture, one may have to endure reduced mouth opening, disturbed occlusion, swelling, and tenderness in and outside of the oral cavity. Furthermore, fracture may damage nerve causing numbness to the lower lip and chin.4
The joint that holds the mandible suspended from the skull is called as 'Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)'. Jaw pain can be a symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which can cause headaches, earaches, pain in neck, back of the shoulder, disturbed posture and difficulty in chewing, swallowing and sleep.
Dr. Shruti Mehta, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Consultant Aesthetician in Department of Plastic Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shree Narayana Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, told MedBound Times that, "TMJ is highly susceptible to injury, resulting in dislocation, fracture, stiffness, immobility, inflammation and painful movement. This is mainly due to the delicate part of Jawbone that coincides with the skull t for the joint. It is this part 'the condyle' that is highly prone to fracture, dislodgement and dislocation. The trauma may result from an accident, fall, blow to the jawbone in a combat or infection, which can restrict the functions of the jaw causing difficulty in chewing, speech and swallowing."
"Even milder forms of injury to TMJ can result in inflammation, tenderness and decreased range of motion of the jawbone. Hence, it is important to consult your dentist at the earliest possible" she added.
So, how can we ensure a healthy jawbone and a radiant smile? The good news is, there are several steps we can take to ensure good health of the jawbone:
Maintain good oral hygiene
Maintaining a good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of gum diseases and cavities that can later lead to loss of teeth, a significant contributor to deterioration of jawbone. Professionals advice brushing twice daily and flossing regularly removes plaque and bacteria, preventing gum disease. Apart from this refined, sugary diet and fast-food should be avoided to prevent dental caries.
Eat a healthy diet
A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and other essential nutrients provides the building blocks for a strong jawbone. Nutrient rich, fibrous diet, leafy greens, dairy products, and food rich in calcium are excellent choices to maintain good oral health.5
Schedule regular dental checkups
Regular dental checkups allow dentists to detect and address any potential problems early on, preventing potential oral health issues.
In case of any trauma or direct impact to the jawbone in an accident, immediate assistance from a professional should be sought to avoid permanent damage.5
Consider dental implants
If you've lost teeth, dental implants are a great option to replace them and stimulate the jawbone, preventing further resorption.
Beyond these essential steps, there are a few lifestyle habits that can benefit your jawbone health.
Chew sugar-free gum
Chewing gum increases blood flow to the jawbone, promoting its health. However, more frequent use of chewing-gums may lead to over-stimulation of facial muscles, leading to clenching habits. These can have deleterious effect on the jawbone and TMJ.
Chewing gums for long hours can also lead to wearing off of the enamel of the teeth due to increased contraction of chewing muscles, eventually leading to dental issues.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking is known to have adverse effects on the overall health of an individual, including the jawbone. Smoking leads to faster regression of bone support around the teeth, cancer of jawbones, inflammation of gums and loss of tooth supporting structures, leading to further deterioration of the jawbone.
Excessive Clenching and Grinding of Teeth/ Bruxism
Excessive clenching and grinding your teeth can put too much stress on the jawbone and lead to tender, painful clicking and crackling of the TMJ.
If you find yourself clenching and grinding your teeth unconsciously, or during sleep consider wearing a mouth-guard at night or practicing relaxation techniques provided by your dentist.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise and practicing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, can improve bone health throughout the body, including the jawbone. Sleep hypnosis can further help keep the stress away and the jawbone muscles relaxed, improving the blood flow to the TMJ.
Taking care of your jawbone is an investment in your overall health and well-being. By following these simple tips, you can ensure a strong, healthy jawbone that supports a beautiful smile and contributes to a healthier you. Remember, a healthy jawbone is not just about aesthetics; it's about function, comfort, and even your sleep quality. So, don't underestimate the power of this silent partner in your oral health journey
References:
1. Kotsanti, Marilena, Anastasia Mitsea, Nikolaos Christoloukas, Kyriaki Seremidi, and Sotiria Gizani. "Mandibular Cortical Bone Evaluation in a Healthy Paediatric Population." In Healthcare, vol. 11, no. 24, p. 3105. MDPI, 2023.
2. Cerrati, Eric W., and J. Regan Thomas. "The multicultural evolution of beauty in facial surgery." Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology 83, no. 4 (2017): 373-374.
3. Murphy, Meghan K., Regina F. MacBarb, Mark E. Wong, and Kyriacos A. Athanasiou. "Temporomandibular joint disorders: a review of etiology, clinical management, and tissue engineering strategies." The International journal of oral & maxillofacial implants 28, no. 6 (2013): e393.
4. Yuen, Ho-Wang, Marc H. Hohman, and Thomas Mazzoni. "Mandible fracture." (2018).
5. Barranca-Enríquez, Antonia, and Tania Romo-González. "Your health is in your mouth: A comprehensive view to promote general wellness." Frontiers in Oral Health 3 (2022): 971223.
