TMJ and Eating

How TMJ Dysfunction Affects Everyday Eating

TMJ disorder is a chronic condition that afflicts the temporomandibular joint, located directly beneath the ears on the bottom of the skull. This joint is necessary for opening and closing the mouth, which means that the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder can lead to difficulty performing any number of unavoidable everyday tasks, including talking, laughing and yawning. Perhaps the most difficult daily function to undertake when afflicted with TMJ disorder is eating. Tooth pain, a misaligned bite, popping or clicking sensations in the jaw and a persistent ache in or around the mouth are all symptoms associated with TMJ syndrome; therefore, biting, chewing and swallowing may all be negatively affected by the disorder. Here are a few precautions that may be taken in order to ease some of the pain that accompanies eating while suffering from TMJ dysfunction:

• TMJ patients are advised to steer clear of chewing gum, hard candy, or any chewy, sticky or particularly crunchy or toothsome foods (including certain raw vegetables, nuts, and tough or stringy meat). Avoiding any foods that require a good deal of chewing may help sufferers avoid the repetitive jaw motions that aggravate TMJ symptoms.
• Attempting to chew equally on both sides of the mouth is another common tactic that may be employed to help ease TMJ pain. This also helps the patient avoid overusing one side of the mouth, which can have long-term consequences such as regular swelling and lopsided muscle growth on the face.
• Eating only soft foods or committing to a liquid diet may also help patients avoid painful chewing or biting. This kind of food avoidance technique soon becomes tedious, however, and most patients find it difficult to stick to it for any considerable length of time.
• Taking smaller bites in order to avoid putting too much food in the mouth is another TMJ syndrome eating technique. This will help decrease the amount of chewing that needs to be done by the patient; in addition, some studies have shown that putting very large quantities of food in the mouth at one time may even lead to TMJ disorder. Sticking to more manageable quantities of food is a good idea for everyone, whether or not they’re currently dealing with TMJ!
• Avoiding foods such as hamburgers, large sandwiches and apples that require opening the jaw wide in order to take a bite. TMJ sufferers should avoid opening their jaws too wide in order to avoid a jaw that becomes “locked” open and may even require a trip to the emergency room.

With these tips in mind, people with TMJ dysfunction may be able to find short-term ways to cope with the pain of eating. However, these guidelines do not offer a permanent solution to the problem of TMJ. If you or someone you care about is suffering from TMJ syndrome, contact a reputable TMJ specialist today in order to treat the problem for good. An experienced TMJ doctor, like Dr. Eddie Siman at Millennium Dental, will have many non-surgical options for you to choose from that will permanently relieve your TMJ symptoms. Don’t suffer through another day with TMJ; contact Millennium Dental immediately for an appointment.