Foods to Avoid with TMJ/TMD

If you’ve been diagnosed with a TMJ disorder, our doctors at Riverwalk Dental want to assure that you are pain-free. If you have TMJ/TMD you may want to avoid certain types of foods that could make the condition worse. We don’t recommend making any drastic changes to your diet, but we do suggest incorporating softer foods into your diet. TMJ is a chronic condition that requires self-care measures and a little help from your dentist.

Crunchy foods, including popcorn, chips and other salty snack foods may be too difficult for your jaw to chew when you have TMJ. Hard vegetables like carrots and celery can also cause pain in the jaw because of the intensity with which you need to bite down on them. Other types of food to avoid include chewy snacks, fatty foods, and foods that are cut into large pieces.

If you have questions or concerns regarding TMJ/TMD, please give us a call. Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit riverwalkdental.ca.

Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

A temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury to the temporomandibular joint. This joint is the connection between the jaw bone to the skull. Located on each side of the head, your TMJ muscles work together when you chew, speak or swallow and include muscles and ligaments as well as the jaw bone. They also control the lower jaw (mandible) as it moves forward, backward and side to side. When these muscles become sore, our staff at Riverwalk Dental can provide you with relief.

Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include pain or tenderness in your jaw, aching pain in and around your ear, difficulty chewing or discomfort while chewing, aching facial pain, and locking of the joint, making it difficult to open and close your mouth. You may also have toothaches, headaches, or ear aches. To treat the problem, you will need to schedule a consultation with your dentist. He or she may suggest a night guard, or dental work depending on the case.

If you wake up with aching jaw pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, 403-456-4994.