Managing TMD Symptoms: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Is Diet One of the Causes of TMD?

For a person who has TMD, eating can be a struggle. The complex network of bone, muscle, and ligaments that allow the jaws to open and close with ease must work in perfect synchrony.

TMD throws off that balance, which can lead to discomfort or even pain when chewing. Hard-to-chew foods place stress on the TMJs. Since the joints are already tender and possibly worn, the extra pressure exerted by the jaw muscles can cause TMD symptoms to flare. 

What Food Can Aggregate TMD Symptoms?

In general, foods that are hard, chewy, or crunchy should be avoided. If you can't eliminate these foods, consider reducing their consumption. 

Most people experience intermittent discomfort from TMD. If you have not had a flare-up for days or weeks, you can reintroduce the foods below.

Candies

Many forms of candy and sweets are risky to eat if you have TMD. Candies tend to be hard to chew on.

If a sugar-laden treat isn't hard then it likely is chewy. For these reasons, try to avoid candy.

Gum

Gum may seem like a soft option that shouldn't cause stress on your TMJs. Any type of gum, though, requires constant and repetitive chewing. Over time, this motion places stress on your TMJs.

Certain Bakes Goods

Not all baked goods will be a problem. Watch out for certain bread that is hard or chewy. An especially crusty baguette, for example, can require a hard bite to chew.

Untoasted sandwich bread shouldn't be a problem. Cornbread is another type of bread that causes minimal discomfort during TMD flareups.

Certain Fruits and Vegetables

We're not saying to cut out fruits and veggies. Those plants are an important source of nutrition. 

If you are experiencing soreness in the jaw, you may want to avoid raw carrots and other types of hard fruits and veggies. Apples can be hard to bite as well. Biting into apples often requires overextending the jaws, which can lead to further discomfort.

Be sure not to reduce your overall intake of vegetables and fruits. Many of the antioxidants found in plants are anti-inflammatory. This means that they can actually reduce your jaw discomfort and other TMD symptoms.

As we'll describe below, baking veggies or blending them into a smoothie is a great way to enjoy those important and healthy plants. 

Nuts

Macaroons, almonds, and other nuts tend to be dense and hard. Some types of nuts and seeds come with shells. You would never want to pry open sunflower seeds if you are experiencing TMD symptoms.

Ice 

There are a lot of reasons why chewing ice is bad for your teeth. The rapid change in temperature is bad for your enamel. Plus, ice is incredibly hard.

Many Americans chew ice, but this habit should be especially avoided by people who have TMD.

What Foods Are OK?

Now, onto topics that are more fun. There are plenty of foods that are perfectly safe to eat, even if you are experiencing TMD symptoms.

Pasta

Pasta is a form of comfort food, and we could all use a little more comfort in our lives. Whether you indulge in rigatoni, spaghetti, or any other noodle, you can do so with the confidence of knowing that the boiled starch will minimally upset your TMJs.

Smoothies

Smoothies are super popular and super nutritious. Whether you blend up veggies, fruit, or a combination, you will benefit from dense nutrition and zero aggregation of your TMJs.

Smoothies offer the opportunity to consume some of the harder veggies and fruits that you might otherwise miss out on. Blend apples and carrots, for example. 

Dairy Products

Dairy products are almost always safe. Cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other milk-based products are rich in calcium and easy to chew and digest.

Baked Foods

Pretty much anything you bake will end up being softer and easier to eat. Try starting with a baked potato or baked sweet potato. Baked veggies are another great option.

Other Tips for Alleviating TMD Discomfort

Along with the tips in this blog, there are several home remedies that can help you alleviate TMD discomfort.

How well you rest an impact how severe your TMD symptoms are. Take time for restful sleep in a dark and quiet environment. 

Try taking a hot bath or using a cold compress to soothe your jaw discomfort. 

Mindfulness exercises can also help. Breathing exercises can naturally lower levels of discomfort. The exercises can also help reduce stress, which can lead to better sleep and possibly a reduction in nighttime teeth grinding.

Schedule a TMD Self-Care Consultation with Your Dentist in Burke VA

Understanding which foods can be safely eaten is an important part of TMD self-care. As you now know, some of the causes of TMD include certain types of food and drinks. 
When dietary changes aren't enough to reverse TMD symptoms, your dentist in Burke VA can provide several treatment options that are proven to address TMD. Call our office today to schedule your next appointment.