Soft Food Diet for TMJ
- Scrambled eggs.
- Fruit and yogurt smoothie.
- Hot cereals (e.g., Cream of Wheat, grits, oatmeal, porridge)
- Cottage cheese.
- Yogurt.
- Applesauce.
- Beans.
- Fish.
What foods should you avoid with TMJ?
Some of the worst foods for TMJ pain are:
- Gum and chewy or sticky candies.
- Bagels, crusty bread, and other chewy baked goods.
- Apples, carrots, and other hard fruits and vegetables.
- Chewy or tough meat.
- Hard nuts.
- Ice (put it in your drinks, use it in a cold compress for swelling, but don’t bite into it!)
What foods help jaw pain?
Foods that will alleviate jaw discomfort include scrambled eggs, rice, pasta, yogurt, soft breads, and leafy green vegetables. Prepare soups, chili, or stews, and focus on softer meats, such as tuna, white fish, and dark chicken or turkey meat.
Can you eat pizza with TMJ?
Pizza – pizza itself isn’t bad for the TMJ joint, but the crust can be chewy and hard to get through. Repetitive chewing through pizza crust can cause inflammation and irritation. Steak, beef jerky (any chewy meat) – steak is one of the highest offenders of TMJ pain.
What soft foods can I eat with TMJ? – Related Questions
Can I eat ice cream with TMJ?
Eating with care
Choose soft foods. These include scrambled eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, quiche, tofu, soup, smoothies, pasta, fish, mashed potatoes, milkshakes, bananas, applesauce, gelatin, or ice cream. Don’t bite into hard foods. These include whole apples, carrots, and corn on the cob.
Is peanut butter good for TMJ?
Some great ideas for soft foods to try with a TMD are yogurt, oatmeal, protein smoothies, soft cheeses, rice, beans, eggs, hummus, peanut butter, quinoa, avocado, bananas, fish, tofu and ground meat.
Are bananas good for TMJ?
Starches like mashed potatoes, pasta and polenta are wise choices. Oatmeal and muffins should not irritate your TMJ pain, as long as there are no added nuts or other crunchy toppings. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet. Soft fruits like bananas are an excellent option.
Does cold food make TMJ worse?
There is seemingly nothing wrong with sipping an ice-cold drink or two, but if you suffer from TMD, then you should consider scaling back a bit on the icy beverages. When you consume cold drinks or frozen foods, the pain in your jaw could end up becoming intensified, which could lead to your muscles becoming tense.
What helps TMJ immediately?
Use a hot or cold compress. Ice helps reduce swelling and pain, while heat can increase blood flow and relax your jaw muscles. Apply a hot or cold compress to your jaw for 15 to 20 minutes at a time using a light layer between the compress and your skin.
Why does my jaw hurt when I eat pizza?
Specifically, eating a high amount of very chewy foods, like bagels, pizza crusts, dryer/leaner cuts of meat, and chewy treats like taffies, gummies, or bubble gum can overwork the jaw muscles, leading to fatigue. In addition, taking large bites of food can overextend your jaw, further straining the TMJs.
Can you eat a burger with TMJ?
Crunchy, chewy, and tough foods are kind of a no-brainer, but it’s best to also avoid anything that requires a big bite – sandwiches, burgers, corn on the cob.
Does TMJ hurt after eating?
If you find your jaw feeling sore during or after a meal, you could be suffering from a TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. You’ll be glad to know that this is treatable.
Does TMJ make it hard to eat?
The pain and jaw dysfunction associated with TMJ disorders can make chewing and swallowing food challenging.
Can dairy make TMJ worse?
Since inflammation in the body is a common cause of TMJ, avoiding foods that trigger inflammation can reduce some symptoms for some people. Following an anti-inflammatory diet that cuts down on fatty foods, dairy and wheat can be helpful.
Does cold food make TMJ worse?
There is seemingly nothing wrong with sipping an ice-cold drink or two, but if you suffer from TMD, then you should consider scaling back a bit on the icy beverages. When you consume cold drinks or frozen foods, the pain in your jaw could end up becoming intensified, which could lead to your muscles becoming tense.
Does TMJ ever fully heal?
Fortunately, TMJ disorder is not irreversible. With proper care and treatment, you can cure it permanently. In most cases (especially mild to moderate ones) you don’t need to seek professional help, as there are ways to manage the pain, and even make it go away.
What helps TMJ immediately?
Use a hot or cold compress. Ice helps reduce swelling and pain, while heat can increase blood flow and relax your jaw muscles. Apply a hot or cold compress to your jaw for 15 to 20 minutes at a time using a light layer between the compress and your skin.
How I cured my TMJ naturally?
One of the best ways to start finding relief from TMJ pain is by simply just eating softer foods. When you eat softer foods, your jaw doesn’t have to chew as much. When you chew less, your jaw experiences less pressure and less stress and therefore gives it a break to allow the inflammation to go down.
How can I relax my jaw when I sleep?
Start Relaxing Your Jaw Muscles Every Night Before You Sleep
You can do this by placing a warmed piece of cloth on the side of your face. This particular method is more effective with people who grind their teeth as a result of an acute situation, such as a broken or otherwise injured jaw.
Where do you massage your jaw to relax?
Place 2 to 3 fingers on the muscles below your cheek bones. If you clench your teeth, you should feel the muscles tighten under those fingers. Press into the muscles and hold that pressure for 6 to 10 seconds. Keep your jaw relaxed and repeat in another tender or tight area of your cheek.
