Food Recommendations For TMD
Do you visit our office due to complications related to TMD? If so, you know better than most that when you are experiencing a flare-up of symptoms, eating can sometimes be a bit of a pain in the neck, literally speaking for some of our patients. With the warmer weather arriving, vacations being planned, and family events taking place, it can be tempting to disregard food recommendations. We want to share some of the suggested foods and some foods that are best left to the side. Read on to learn more.
Listen to Your Body
It’s important to take cues from your body to determine if the food that you are eating is the right choice while experiencing TMD symptoms. If you experience tenderness or jaw fatigue while chewing, don’t be afraid to take a break from eating and ice your jaw for a bit. You might need to choose a different food choice until you are feeling better.
Foods to Enjoy
As much as you might want to branch out from your food suggestions, we would hate for you to experience discomfort. This is why we recommend that our patients eat softer foods as much as possible. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you are restricted to a menu of smoothies, yogurt and pudding. While those are delicious choices, there are a number of other options that are delicious and nutritious. Along with softer foods, we also suggest a diet rich in anti-inflammatory properties. We suggest foods such as:
- Fish
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Burrito bowl with favorite toppings
- Macaroni and cheese and other pasta dishes
- Watermelon, bananas, and other soft fruits
- Cottage cheese and string cheese
- Hummus with cucumbers
Foods to Avoid
From experience you might be aware of what food to avoid; however, it’s always a good idea to have a reminder, since many of these foods can be tempting while at a special event or function. We suggest that our patients try to avoid foods that are chewy, tough, and difficult to chew, such as:
- Apples and raw carrots
- Hard pretzels
- Steak
- Beef jerky
- Gummy candy
- Chewing gum
- Hard nuts
- Ice
Please let us know if you feel you need extra support or have questions about managing your TMD and food selections. If you are located in or near the Auburn & Silverdale, WA area, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
