Foods To Avoid And Foods To Enjoy If You Have TMD

If you are one of our TMD patients, you have probably already heard about the different ways that you can take care of yourself in conjunction with our treatment plan. An important aspect of treating TMD is ensuring that your diet doesn’t make your symptoms worse.

Not Just Jaw Strain

Any food that worsens your condition and places undue stress on your jaw and muscles will contribute to discomfort, but it is also important to avoid foods that cause inflammation. Anything that makes you feel worse should be eliminated or, at the very least, limited.

Foods to Avoid

Avoiding foods that make your condition worse, such as those that trigger inflammation or cause jaw stress, will allow your jaw to recover. Some foods to avoid are: 

• Processed or sugary foods – Foods high in sugar or preservatives can cause inflammatory responses in the body.
• Caffeine and alcohol – Both can cause dehydration, inflammation, and muscle tension, which can make TMD symptoms worse.
• Acidic foods – Citrus fruits and tomatoes can cause pain and increase inflammation for some patients.
• Hard or chewy foods – Hard candies, nuts, apples, raw carrots, and celery are some examples of hard foods to avoid. Steak, bagels, gum, and chewy candies are examples of chewy foods to avoid.

Foods to Enjoy

When symptoms flare up or if your TMD is advanced, it will help to limit yourself to soft foods. This will allow your jaw to relax and heal. Then, you can slowly integrate your favorite foods back into your diet. Combined with your treatments, an anti-inflammation diet can help patients who are suffering from TMD. Some foods to integrate into your diet are:

• Antioxidant-rich foods such as fresh fruit, berries, and melons. Certain vegetables like avocados, potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, and squash. 
• Omega-3 fatty acids. These are found in salmon, certain plant oils, and eggs.
• Foods that are soft and don’t require much chewing, like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and soups.
• Ginger and turmeric can help fight inflammation and can be easily added to dishes or beverages.

Stick to a soft food, anti-inflammatory diet until your jaw has had a chance to heal. 

Food Allergies

Food allergies can cause an inflammatory reaction in the body and negatively impact your TMD. Consider getting tested so that you can eliminate any foods that cause allergic reactions.

If you have any questions about how your diet is affecting your TMD treatments, contact one of our four locations: Bellevue, Lynnwood, Federal Way, and Silverdale, WA. We are here to help!