Contribution by Nadia Gomez. Chewing gum is the choice of preference among all candy in most age groups, and although it is not ingested, it is considered a part of an individual’s regular diet. Although this may seem like a normal and harmless habit, gum-chewing…

Contribution by Nadia Gomez. What can I do to help my jaw pain? Temporomandibular disorders affect the temporomandibular joint, and muscles of mastication. The cause of this phenomenon is multifactorial, and can be associated with occlusal conditions, stress, trauma, and parafunction. Unfortunately, this disorder is…

Collaboration of Nadia Gomez. Opioids Opioids are very potent and effective drugs; they are traditionally used for both acute and chronic pain conditions. However, opioids commonly cause vigorous side effects, some of which are likely to become lethal. The opioid signaling system has the greatest…

Collaboration of Nadia Gomez. Saliva is of vital importance for the maintenance of oral health, including the lubrication and repair of oral tissues, oral acid neutralization, maintenance, enamel in children, tooth remineralization, digestion, and speech. Systemic disorders can result in salivary gland dysfunction, for instance:…

Sleep hygiene means having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep.  Sleep hygiene means having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep. SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER SLEEP Keeping a stable sleep schedule Making your bedroom comfortable…

A good sleep is needed to give the body a chance to recover, and to have energy for fulfilling the daily responsibilities. This post explores the different stages of sleep, all of them needed to have “nice dreams!” Sleep Stages (by Kryger et al, 2017)…

Inhibition or modulation are mechanisms which will change the pain experience. By modifying how the body reacts, the clinician will offer some relief to patients with chronic pain . There are multiple mechanisms for pain modulation (inhibition and facilitation).  Descending control of spinal nociception originates…

Insomnia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability or fatigue during wakefulness. Insomnia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, accompanied by symptoms such as irritability or fatigue during…

The medication is part of your treatment, and has been selected because it will help you to control infection, pain, or to improve the healing process.  When you receive a prescription, there are several elements that the doctor will include: The name of the medication…

What is a normal mouth opening path? Ideally, when you open and close your mouth, there is no deviation to any of the sides. To see if you have a straight opening, look at your image in a mirror, and visualize a vertical line located…