Marco Island Dental Blog

If not for the temporomandibular joint, more commonly referred to as the “TMJ,” you would not be able to speak, laugh, yawn, or chew food effectively. The joint consists of interconnected muscles, ligaments, and discs that connect the upper and lower jaw bones and allows you to move them from side to side, up and down, and forward and backward. As a crucial component of a workable mouth and overall oral health, dentists generally check its function during the course of an oral examination.

If you put losing weight at the top of your 2018 New Year’s resolutions list, we’ve got some good news for you that may add impetus for maintaining that resolution going forward: Not only does weight loss generally benefit overall health, but the food choices made during dieting often serve to benefit your teeth and overall oral health. That’s because many of the food items that can affect your waist line can also be detrimental to your teeth.