Iggy Azalea has recently proclaimed on Twitter that her singing lessons have done more than just help her prepare for future albums. Believe it or not, she claims her singing lessons have actually helped her with her TMJ as well. At the beginning of 2015, the Aussie singer shared news of her TMJ diagnosis, blaming it on the “drama” associated with her sudden rise to fame in 2014. She pledged to try to take care of herself and try to reduce her stress in the coming year.
Temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ, is commonly caused by a misaligned bite and comes with a plethora of symptoms. Common symptoms include jaw pain and clicking, restricted jaw movement, migraines, as well as neck and shoulder pain. You would think that singing lessons would cause more pain than harm when it comes to TMJ. Well, it is a little more complicated than that.
The Ins and Outs of Singing Lessons
Many people do not realize how important the jaw is to singing. Moving your jaw is essential to clear enunciation and can help improve the range of your voice. Because the jaw is so important, the surrounding muscles are often massaged before practice, much in the same way that is recommended for TMJ patients.
Good posture is also extremely important to maintain proper airflow, and allow the diaphragm to expand and contract. The proper singing posture is actually very similar to the spinal neutral zone that is recommended to avoid TMJ: you should stand straight with your shoulders back and down. Essentially you want to stand so that your heels, calves, buttocks, shoulders, and head are all in alignment.
Visit a TMJ Dentist
There are many ways that you can help manage TMJ pain at home, and it seems like singing lessons may indeed indirectly help with some aspects of TMJ. That being said, it is important to visit with a TMJ dentist if you notice any symptoms of TMJ. While TMJ is not life threatening, it can be a very painful and debilitating condition. If you or a loved one are dealing with TMJ and live in the Denver area, please consider visiting with Dr. Kevin Barry at the TMJ Therapy and Sleep Center of Colorado. He can help fit you with a bite splint that can realign your bite, which is key if you want to address TMJ. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (303) 691-0267.
