Food Recommendations For TMD Sufferers
Do you suffer from TMD? If so, then you know that certain foods can cause your symptoms to flare up and leave you in a state of discomfort. With summer upon us, vacations are planned, and family events are taking place, making it tempting to disregard food recommendations. We want to share some recommended foods and some foods that are best left to the side if you struggle with TMD discomfort.
Foods to Enjoy
Even if your treatment plan is working magnificently, our motto is, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. You may be tempted to branch out and try various foods to see if they cause a problem with your TMD symptoms. We would hate for you to be in a great place with your pain level and then experience discomfort due to food choices. 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. We suggest foods such as:
- Fish
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Burrito bowl with your 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 may know what foods trigger your TMD symptoms. We know it can be tempting to try certain foods again to see if they still have the same result. We hate to see patients experience discomfort after finally reaching a point where they can eat and not have any jaw discomfort. 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
As always, if you have any issues with your TMD symptoms, be sure to contact our office, and we will be glad to help. We also recommend reaching out if it has been some time since your last routine hygiene examination and cleaning. We look forward to seeing you in our office, which is located in Houston, TX, soon!
