TMJ disorder (TMD) is a common condition that can cause chronic jaw pain and a range of other unpleasant symptoms. If you are suffering from it, you should certainly seek professional treatment. In the meantime, though, there may be some simple steps you can take to mitigate your discomfort. In this blog post, we discuss six habits that should be avoided by individuals with TMD.
Chewing Gum
For most people, chewing sugar-free gum is a good thing because it stimulates saliva production and can help to reduce the risk of cavities. Unfortunately, it’s not a wise habit for individuals with TMD. The muscles around your jaw joint are already sore, so exposing them to extra work by popping a piece of gum in your mouth is likely to make matters worse.
Slouching
Poor posture can cause all sorts of aches and pains throughout the body, including in your jaw and facial muscles. The jaw joint (TMJ) works best when a person is upright, with their head positioned properly at the top of the spine. Trying to keep your shoulders back and your head up may do much to relieve TMD pain.
Eating Hard Foods
Eating hard foods is inadvisable for the same reason that chewing gum is; it places extra stress on a sore, overworked joint. Try to center your diet around soft or no-chew foods. Here are some examples of items that may be good for you:
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Soft breads
- Scrambled eggs
- Meatloaf
- Well-cooked veggies (no raw veggies)
Resting Your Head on Your Chin
When you are scrolling through social media, studying, or just trying to stave off boredom, do you tend to rest your head on your chin? Doing so can place pressure on your jaw joint, possibly even causing its disc to slip out of place, which in turn can lead to pain and difficulty chewing.
Chewing Food on Only One Side of Your Mouth
Many people tend to automatically shift their food to one side of their mouth while chewing. Unfortunately, this can worsen TMD because it causes uneven stress on both your jaw joint and the surrounding muscles. If tooth pain causes you to chew on only one side of your mouth, you should see your dentist for treatment ASAP.
Nonfunctional Jaw Activities
Nonfunctional jaw activities include any use of your jaw that isn’t related to eating or speaking. For example, it could be chewing on a pen while you read or biting your fingernails while you watch TV. These habits create extra work for your TMJ and can exacerbate your TMD symptoms.
Professional treatment is the best way to address TMD, but adjusting some of your daily habits may also do much to lessen your pain!
Meet the Practice
Drs. Steve Koo and William Shepard are the oral surgeons at Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Katy/Cypress. They offer a broad range of treatments, including some that are designed to relieve TMD pain. To learn more about our team and our services, contact us at 832-353-1100.