[g_podcast id="11703002"]
Stefanie Kapp is a physiotherapistwho specializes in people with jaw, head and neck problems. It's not just about mechanicalproblems, but also things like tinnitus, migraines, swallowing difficulties and sinusitis.
Among other things, we talk about:
Welcome dear Stefanie!
We got to know each other through Instagram. How do you feel about social media, do you use it as a means to an end or do you also like to engage with the topic?
Stefanie: I like to use social media for both areas, firstly to pass on my knowledge for people who have jaw, neck and back problems and secondly to build up my reach. But I also like to share personal information about myself.
You have a physiotherapy practice, so your patients can certainly talk to you in more detail this way, right?
Stefanie: Yes, I only treat private patients. During treatment, many patients naturally like to ask questions about the causes of their problems or illnesses. I've noticed that many questions are repeated and so I've decided to digitize all my knowledge.
I always tell my clients that it's very beneficial for their digestion to chew well, and I like to get feedback that some of them get sore muscles as a result, can that be true?
Stefanie: Yes, it's like any other physical training. In this case, I give my patients the task of strengthening their muscles without food so that they feel like chewing again.
How is it that people have difficulty chewing, can it be due to misaligned teeth, teeth grinding or tension?
Stefanie: Exactly as you say. When you grind your teeth, your subconscious processes things. It uses you have the strongest musculature, which is located in our jaw, a main chewing muscle that is permanently active.
Of course, it is not very beneficial if the muscle is permanently strained, because then the muscle is very tired during the day, which causes pain and thus impairs the chewing process.
Furthermore, there are people with malocclusions such as transverse, crooked teeth, crossbite, etc.. In this case, your muscles are permanently occupied with bringing you into a physiological position when chewing so that you can chew your food well at the end.
I know this very well, because I had fixed braces as a child and now I have malocclusions again. What can you do about this as an adult and how can you help?
Stefanie: If you realize that your teeth have changed, your bite is not normal, but your body is fit and you have no pain, there is no need for treatment.
If I see an old grandma outside who walks crookedly and has an uneven back, who is otherwise in good general health, I won't want to change the system, even as a physiotherapist.
However, I had to do something about it because I had problems with my spine, my whole chewing process changed, so I now wear fixed braces.
Did you come to this specialization through your own problems?
Stefanie: Yes, I started out as a physiotherapist specializing in orthopaedic patients. I then took part in a three-year training course specifically for jaw, head and neck patients. The aim of the training was to find out what the problems were, where the biggest problems were and how they could be resolved. Due to a fall during a stay in Asia last year, my jaw and several teeth were broken, which is why I now wear braces. I can understand all the steps very well, from surgery and a lot of pain to wearing braces.
Many of my clients also struggle with migraines, what is the connection with the jaw?
Stefanie: There are many triggers for migraines. Most migraine patients have problems in the cervical spine. It can also be caused by teeth grinding and sleep disorders. The trigeminal nerve and other cranial nerves can also be a trigger for migraines.
I also always take a close look at the patient's eyes and pay attention to eye movements, whether the eyes are liquid, etc.. I also often treat migraines via the skull, which is a good way to control the pain.
What does good sleep hygiene mean and what do you recommend to your patients?
Stefanie: I take a close look at what my patients eat before they sleep, how they organize their daily routine, when they last watched TV, why they can't switch off and give them some recommendations. Patients also receive simple tips on meditation exercises and breathing exercises and I am happy to refer them to experts such as yourself for specialist topics. For patients who suffer from teeth grinding, there are great exercises in my "Teeth grinding and clenching" online course, where I am happy to accompany and coach patients on their way. In the online course, I explain the causes and effects and there are lots of exercises for tensing the chewing muscles and much more.
Where do you see the connection between the jaw and the gut?
Stefanie: The first problem arises in the mouth due to the unchewed food and when I eat this undigested swallowing food. The second problem is caused by unhealthy oral flora due to gum inflammation or root-treated teeth, where a door opens for negative bacteria and these are then passed on to the intestine.
Yes, it's also about mixing the food with the saliva so that the enzymes start to break down the food. It is similar with the mucous membranes, the oral mucosa is also connected to the intestinal mucosa.
Stefanie: Yes, if the gums are inflamed, there is hyperacidity in the mouth area, which is then transferred to the intestine.
The interesting thing is that most people are not hyperacidic in the intestine, but that the environment in the intestine is too alkaline. When we carry out our microbiome analysis, many people are surprised when the pH value in the gut is too high, i.e. too alkaline. Or if you have too little stomach acid, you have to burp often and the food is not digested properly. In this case, the food can start to ferment and the whole thing is pushed upwards...
It is said that teeth represent certain feelings and emotions, have you ever dealt with this topic?
Stefanie: Yes, I always carry a table with me. This table shows the significance of each individual tooth. You can assign joints, emotions and organs to the teeth. For example, if you have root canal treated teeth or teeth that are sensitive to pain, you can see whether these problems are connected to other problems in the body. If you have a bladder infection, for example, you look at the incisors and so on. The teeth are just as much a part of our entire system as the rest of the body.
Right, in addition to your online course, you also have a YouTube channel, your own podcast and are very active on Instagram. If anyone has any questions about this, they can of course contact you directly via Instagram.
Finally, do you have any recommendations or suggestions that you would like to share with us?
Stefanie: I always say that the beginning is half the battle. Just get started, no matter how and in which way. Try taking the first step to get rid of your pain.
If you take the first step, you'll quickly notice that it's good for your body and your mindset and this change will help you stay on the ball.
On Tuesdays, there's always a live stream with me on my Instagram account on various topics, where I'm happy to answer lots of questions live, so you can simply send me your questions in advance as a message.
The links to the episode are as follows:
Online course teeth grindingAdé:https://www.kieferwissen.de/index.php/produkt/online-trainingsprogramm-zaehneknirschen-pressen-ade/
Stefanie 'sblog: https://www.kieferwissen.de/index.php/blog/
PodcastGet rid of jaw pain:https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/kieferschmerzen-loswerden-podcast/id1321325769
YouTube channel from Stefanie:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUg3jQouh5mGuaQ1RAhFa2A?view_as=subscriber
Instagram profile Stefanie:https://www.instagram.com/kieferwissen/
Now I recommend you subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, I really appreciate a review on iTunes or Apple Podcast. Because these reviews also help other people to find the podcast so that we can spread the knowledge about gut and health more.
Stefanie Kapp is a physiotherapistwho specializes in people with jaw, head and neck problems. It's not just about mechanicalproblems, but also things like tinnitus, migraines, swallowing difficulties and sinusitis.
Among other things, we talk about:
- Can chewing cause sore muscles?
- What's the problem with grinding your teeth at night
- No tree is straight, not even us humans 🌳
- What her own story is regarding jaw problems
- What migraines can have to do with, among other things
- The importance of the gut and nutrition for complaints in themouth andhead area
Welcome dear Stefanie!
We got to know each other through Instagram. How do you feel about social media, do you use it as a means to an end or do you also like to engage with the topic?
Stefanie: I like to use social media for both areas, firstly to pass on my knowledge for people who have jaw, neck and back problems and secondly to build up my reach. But I also like to share personal information about myself.
You have a physiotherapy practice, so your patients can certainly talk to you in more detail this way, right?
Stefanie: Yes, I only treat private patients. During treatment, many patients naturally like to ask questions about the causes of their problems or illnesses. I've noticed that many questions are repeated and so I've decided to digitize all my knowledge.
I always tell my clients that it's very beneficial for their digestion to chew well, and I like to get feedback that some of them get sore muscles as a result, can that be true?
Stefanie: Yes, it's like any other physical training. In this case, I give my patients the task of strengthening their muscles without food so that they feel like chewing again.
How is it that people have difficulty chewing, can it be due to misaligned teeth, teeth grinding or tension?
Stefanie: Exactly as you say. When you grind your teeth, your subconscious processes things. It uses you have the strongest musculature, which is located in our jaw, a main chewing muscle that is permanently active.
Of course, it is not very beneficial if the muscle is permanently strained, because then the muscle is very tired during the day, which causes pain and thus impairs the chewing process.
Furthermore, there are people with malocclusions such as transverse, crooked teeth, crossbite, etc.. In this case, your muscles are permanently occupied with bringing you into a physiological position when chewing so that you can chew your food well at the end.
I know this very well, because I had fixed braces as a child and now I have malocclusions again. What can you do about this as an adult and how can you help?
Stefanie: If you realize that your teeth have changed, your bite is not normal, but your body is fit and you have no pain, there is no need for treatment.
If I see an old grandma outside who walks crookedly and has an uneven back, who is otherwise in good general health, I won't want to change the system, even as a physiotherapist.
However, I had to do something about it because I had problems with my spine, my whole chewing process changed, so I now wear fixed braces.
Did you come to this specialization through your own problems?
Stefanie: Yes, I started out as a physiotherapist specializing in orthopaedic patients. I then took part in a three-year training course specifically for jaw, head and neck patients. The aim of the training was to find out what the problems were, where the biggest problems were and how they could be resolved. Due to a fall during a stay in Asia last year, my jaw and several teeth were broken, which is why I now wear braces. I can understand all the steps very well, from surgery and a lot of pain to wearing braces.
Many of my clients also struggle with migraines, what is the connection with the jaw?
Stefanie: There are many triggers for migraines. Most migraine patients have problems in the cervical spine. It can also be caused by teeth grinding and sleep disorders. The trigeminal nerve and other cranial nerves can also be a trigger for migraines.
I also always take a close look at the patient's eyes and pay attention to eye movements, whether the eyes are liquid, etc.. I also often treat migraines via the skull, which is a good way to control the pain.
What does good sleep hygiene mean and what do you recommend to your patients?
Stefanie: I take a close look at what my patients eat before they sleep, how they organize their daily routine, when they last watched TV, why they can't switch off and give them some recommendations. Patients also receive simple tips on meditation exercises and breathing exercises and I am happy to refer them to experts such as yourself for specialist topics. For patients who suffer from teeth grinding, there are great exercises in my "Teeth grinding and clenching" online course, where I am happy to accompany and coach patients on their way. In the online course, I explain the causes and effects and there are lots of exercises for tensing the chewing muscles and much more.
Where do you see the connection between the jaw and the gut?
Stefanie: The first problem arises in the mouth due to the unchewed food and when I eat this undigested swallowing food. The second problem is caused by unhealthy oral flora due to gum inflammation or root-treated teeth, where a door opens for negative bacteria and these are then passed on to the intestine.
Yes, it's also about mixing the food with the saliva so that the enzymes start to break down the food. It is similar with the mucous membranes, the oral mucosa is also connected to the intestinal mucosa.
Stefanie: Yes, if the gums are inflamed, there is hyperacidity in the mouth area, which is then transferred to the intestine.
The interesting thing is that most people are not hyperacidic in the intestine, but that the environment in the intestine is too alkaline. When we carry out our microbiome analysis, many people are surprised when the pH value in the gut is too high, i.e. too alkaline. Or if you have too little stomach acid, you have to burp often and the food is not digested properly. In this case, the food can start to ferment and the whole thing is pushed upwards...
It is said that teeth represent certain feelings and emotions, have you ever dealt with this topic?
Stefanie: Yes, I always carry a table with me. This table shows the significance of each individual tooth. You can assign joints, emotions and organs to the teeth. For example, if you have root canal treated teeth or teeth that are sensitive to pain, you can see whether these problems are connected to other problems in the body. If you have a bladder infection, for example, you look at the incisors and so on. The teeth are just as much a part of our entire system as the rest of the body.
Right, in addition to your online course, you also have a YouTube channel, your own podcast and are very active on Instagram. If anyone has any questions about this, they can of course contact you directly via Instagram.
Finally, do you have any recommendations or suggestions that you would like to share with us?
Stefanie: I always say that the beginning is half the battle. Just get started, no matter how and in which way. Try taking the first step to get rid of your pain.
If you take the first step, you'll quickly notice that it's good for your body and your mindset and this change will help you stay on the ball.
On Tuesdays, there's always a live stream with me on my Instagram account on various topics, where I'm happy to answer lots of questions live, so you can simply send me your questions in advance as a message.
The links to the episode are as follows:
Online course teeth grindingAdé:https://www.kieferwissen.de/index.php/produkt/online-trainingsprogramm-zaehneknirschen-pressen-ade/
Stefanie 'sblog: https://www.kieferwissen.de/index.php/blog/
PodcastGet rid of jaw pain:https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/kieferschmerzen-loswerden-podcast/id1321325769
YouTube channel from Stefanie:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUg3jQouh5mGuaQ1RAhFa2A?view_as=subscriber
Instagram profile Stefanie:https://www.instagram.com/kieferwissen/
Now I recommend you subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, I really appreciate a review on iTunes or Apple Podcast. Because these reviews also help other people to find the podcast so that we can spread the knowledge about gut and health more.
