The Guide to Eating With TMJ Disorder

All over the world people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder endure pain while they eat. While they try to enjoy an anniversary dinner, brunch with their friends, and while they eat home cooked meals with their families people bear the grinding, aching, and throbbing pain that can accompany TMJ disorder. If someone is between appointments with their doctor to find a suitable treatment plan or if they haven’t been diagnosed yet, there are things that can be done to reduce the jaw aches, just look at this guide to eating with TMJ disorder.

Why Does It Hurt to Chew?

Chewing employs the use of the jaw muscles to move the lower jaw (mandible). The lower jaw moves on the temporomandibular joint that connect the jaw to the skull. When the joint dysfunctions, adjacent muscles and ligaments have to work overtime to keep the joint functional. Temporomandibular joint disorders can include:

• Arthritis
• Dislocation
• Injury or infection in your TMJ

TMJ disorder symptoms affect many people differently. In some cases, symptoms don’t last long, while for others, pain and discomfort is constant. But in almost all cases people suffering find that their symptoms are made worse by clenching, chewing, swallowing, or grinding their teeth.

How to Manage the Chewing Pains

Being able to enjoy your food while dealing with TMJ disorder starts with making a few better decisions to keep the pain an a minimum.

• Minimize wide jaw movements, take smaller bites, don’t overexert your jaw and mouth muscles.
• Avoid foods that require prolonged chewing
• Exercise your jaw with mobility exercises to help regulate pain by teaching good habits
• Notice and eliminate bad habits where possible like nail-biting, cheek or lip chewing, clenching, and teeth grinding

Ultimately, these steps can lessen chewing pain and can be helpful management strategies to avoid spasms. However, they can’t resolve the fundamental issue causing the dysfunction in the first place. For that, you’ll need an expertly devised treatment plan from a TMJ specialist like a Epigenetic Orthodontist, or Neuromuscular Dentist.

TMJ Disorder Relief

If you’re tired of TMJ disorder treatment plans that don’t work and would like to learn more about epigenetic orthodontic treatment possibilities schedule a consultation with Dr. Buck by calling our office at 425-361-7499.