How To Counter TMJ And The Annoyances It Poses

Posted on: 3 February 2015

Recently, a survey was conducted which suggested that tens of millions of Americans suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ). Dental professionals have recently spoken out about the extreme pain and discomfort in and around the jaw bone that people with TMJ regularly suffer.

Proper alignment of the jaw is important for a wide range of reasons. Proper alignment of the jaw joint is necessary in order to eat, chew and speak with ease. Because the intricacies of TMJ are not terribly well known, many sufferers of TMJ can actually exacerbate the issues associated with this condition. If you are someone who suffers from TMJ disorder, try to abide by the following precautions in order to keep feeling well.

  1. Try to limit the size and range of your bite sizes. Instead of scarfing down a meal quickly and carelessly, make a concerted effort to take smaller bites of whatever it is you are eating. In addition, it is important that you avoid opening your mouth too wide during meals. This may mean altering some of the foods that you regularly consume. For example, indulging in a hefty hamburger may cause a bit too much strain on your jaw. If you want to avoid harming this area of your mouth, cut your food into manageable bites and monitor your diet.
  2. If you suffer from TMJ, it is also imperative that you avoid foods that require rigorous jaw movement when eating. These foods include excessively hard and chewy candies. Jawbreakers are certainly off the list but so too are chewy caramels and gums. While crunchy vegetables are certainly nutritious for the rest of the body, they will likely be quite hard on your jaw. As such, if you do want to eat crunchy vegetables it is recommended that you cut them into manageable bites.
  3. Last but certainly not the least, if you have TMJ, you need to try and chew on both sides of your mouth. At first, this will not be an intuitive or natural practice as most people have become accustomed to chewing primarily on either one side or the other. But over time, this practice will become increasingly comfortable.

The aforementioned precautions are all aimed at easing the chronic and often debilitating discomfort of TMJ disorder. They are of course, neither a cure nor a complete solution to the condition. For a more complete treatment method, it is recommended that you consult a dentist from a clinic like Appleway Dental Clinic orthodontics.

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