Most people think of whiplash injury as a neck injury, but the impact of whiplash can go beyond your neck. Many people develop other injuries and conditions as a result of whiplash injuries. One common injury that occurs because of whiplash is temporomandibular joint disorders (called either TMJ or TMD). If you experienced a whiplash injury and now suspect you might have TMJ, Fort Atkinson TMJ dentist Dr. Jennifer Stafford can help. She can diagnose your TMJ and get you an effective TMJ treatment to reduce or eliminate TMJ symptoms.  Request Appointment What Is a Whiplash Injury? Whipl ..read more

Temporomandibular joint disorders (called either TMJ or TMD) can result in numerous types of pain and dysfunction that can impact your quality of life. For many people, TMJ doesn’t need professional care. It can go away with simple home care, including avoiding bad habits that make it worse. Here are the ten most common habits that might contribute to your TMJ. However, if eliminating these habits doesn’t help improve your TMJ, it might be time to see a Fort Atkinson TMJ dentist at Bite Align. Request Appointment Chewing Anything Other Than Food Your jaw can handle pretty much any food when ..read more

Many people in Fort Atkinson experience troubling ear-related symptoms. Vertigo, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), ear fullness, and ear pain can be disruptive, even disabling. Part of what makes these symptoms troubling is that it’s hard to get a good explanation, especially one that leads to relief of your symptoms. Two common explanations for these symptoms are temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ or TMD) and Ménière’s disease. If you get repeated vertigo and related ear symptoms, you should consider these possible explanations. In Fort Atkinson, TMJ dentist Dr. Jennifer Sta ..read more

If you have headaches nearly every day, it’s likely you have chronic daily headaches. Chronic daily headaches are defined as headaches that occur on fifteen or more days a month, and last for at least three months before they meet the clinical definition. While some people have primary chronic daily headaches–those that occur without another cause–many people can trace their headaches back to another condition, which can be treated, providing relief. By treating conditions like sleep apnea and TMJ, you can reduce the frequency and severity of your headaches. Note that both these conditions c ..read more

Thanksgiving is the big kickoff for the festive holiday season for visiting with family and friends. Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and more can lead to big social gatherings. This can be a truly joyous time, but it can also be a painful time, thanks in part to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). Here’s why your symptoms might flare up, and what symptoms to watch for as you’re celebrating.  Why TMJ Symptoms Can Flare Up over the Holidays What causes TMJ symptoms to flare up just when you’re celebrating? There are many factors that go into the increased frequency of TMJ symp ..read more

Teeth grinding is very bad for your teeth. It can lead to excessive wear, cracking, and even early tooth loss.  But can teeth grinding cause other problems beyond your mouth, like headaches and neck pain? Yes, although often headaches, neck pain, and teeth grinding are all symptoms of another condition. What Causes Teeth Grinding? Teeth grinding and clenching are known by the technical name of bruxism. Bruxism can have many potential causes. Understanding the causes of your teeth grinding can help identify how your grinding is linked to your headaches and neck pain. Then you can hope ..read more

Nothing can impact your quality of life quite like a debilitating headache and migraine. It can prevent you from focusing on work or engaging in social events. June is National Migraine Awareness month and we want to help more people find relief from headaches and migraine pain. If you experience regular headaches and migraines, you might have reached the point where you’re wondering whether you should feel concerned about them. Here are 6 signs you should worry about your headaches. 1. Throbbing Head One of the first signs you should worry about your headache is if your head is throbbing ..read more

Have you ever heard a car alarm going off in your neighborhood and it just won’t stop ringing? That’s what having tinnitus is like. The ringing and noises are endless and can disrupt your day to day life. It can make it difficult to focus and sleep and even lead to fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, and memory problems. Nobody wants to live with tinnitus. Fortunately, there are several remedies you can try to alleviate your symptoms and get your life back on track.   1. Hearing Aids Some people develop tinnitus as a result of hearing loss. Once you lose your hearing, you ..read more

The human body has an estimated 650 named skeletal muscles throughout the body, with just four muscle groups located in the head and neck. Muscles aren’t just responsible for helping you move, but also move food through your digestive system and help your heart pump blood. The muscles in the head and neck help you chew, swallow, make facial expressions, and move your eyes. The muscles in the face are unique because they connect bones to the skin while most other muscles connect strictly to only bone. Comparing Arm Movement to Jaw Movement It’s easy to understand the muscles of the arm. To ..read more