If you have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, then you may know how it affects your daily life. You might be familiar with the discomfort it causes, along with headaches or trouble opening and closing your mouth. While you may feel these symptoms every day, the joints can flare up and worsen them. When this happens, you should pivot yourself to avoid any more irritation, so here’s what you should avoid doing for the time being.
1.) Eat Any Chewy or Hard Foods
Your jaw joints are responsible for moving your mouth, so you shouldn’t want to strain them more than they already are. Any foods you eat that are chewy or hard can do just that. Steaks, some candies, bagels, gum, and nuts need excess pressure to bite through. Your TMJs can become more inflamed, so steer clear of these options and stick to a soft-food diet for the time being.
2.) Chew on One Side of Your Mouth
Building off the above, you might chew on one side of your mouth naturally. This can stress the TMJ next to it and the muscles surrounding it. Try your best to be conscious of how you consume your meals and do it on both sides. That way, you can distribute that force across your smile. Not only that, but take smaller bites and eat slowly; that way, you can further minimize any trouble.
3.) Clench or Grind Your Teeth
You may grind or clench your teeth subconsciously for a wide range of reasons, but this can worsen your TMJ disorder. Since you may not realize you’re doing it, you may not notice it until you see increased wear on your teeth or wake up with a sore jaw. Thankfully, your dentist is here to spot the signs of this habit and can help you prevent damage with a nightguard.
4.) Stay Stressed or Anxious
When you’re stressed, the muscles in your head, neck, and jaw might tense up. This can lead to the point above, so take a moment to figure out what’s worrying you. When you do, try to complete the task to get rid of it. If it’s something you can’t fix right away, then try to do breathing exercises, meditation, or light physical activity (like walking or yoga) to ground yourself.
5.) Wait to Get Treatment
After all is said and done, you deserve to get a long-lasting solution to your TMJ disorder. You shouldn’t wait to get the treatment you need, so consider visiting your dentist. They can take a look at your mouth and jaw to see what the underlying cause of it is. Based on what they find, they can give you an effective treatment that can relieve your symptoms, such as a custom oral appliance.
In the end, you shouldn’t deal with TMJ flare-ups. Keep in mind what you should avoid doing and take steps against them; that way, you can get toward a comfortable smile once again.
About the Practice
At Dental Group West, you benefit from a skilled team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are dedicated to helping the Toledo community with their TMJ disorder by offering effective treatments. By having a consultation, we can diagnose your symptoms and come up with a plan to ease them. If you want a long-term solution to this condition, schedule an appointment or call our office at (419) 539-2168.