The Best Diet for TMJ Pain Relief: Foods to Eat and Avoid

Living with jaw pain is no less than a nightmare. It affects one during eating, chewing, talking, laughing – anytime you do any activity that requires jaw movement. 

Now imagine living with the pain 24*7*365.No matter what you do, the annoying jaw pain befriends you. You have no relief from it even while sleeping. 

Does it sound terrifying?

TMJ pain is just like that. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint that connects your skull with jaw muscles. When this joint underperforms, you might experience TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder. It can present itself in the form of a lockjaw, unaligned jaw, uneven bite, facial asymmetry, and more.

So, TMJ pain requires immediate attention. While you can opt for treatments professionals prescribe, simple lifestyle adjustments can also aid in your journey to get rid of TMJ pain. One of the most impactful changes you can make is adopting a diet that supports your joint health. 

The foods you daily have in your diet can either ease your TMJ symptoms or exacerbate them. This blog guides you on what to eat and what to avoid in your diet. It relieves you from TMJ pain and improves your quality of life. Let’s check out the list of TMJ pain relief foods:

Foods That Ease TMJ Pain

There is a range of food options that people with TMJ can include in their daily diet. These options soothe your jaw and improve your joint health. Here is the list of foods that people with TMJ pain must have in their diet:

• Soft Foods: It’s best to enjoy easy-to-chew foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal for people suffering from TMD. These foods reduce jaw strain during mealtimes.
• Anti-Inflammatory Choices: Jaw inflammation might lead to severe jaw issues that make jaw movements a struggle. You can include spinach, kale, and fatty fish in your diet to lower jaw inflammation and protect yourself from worsening jaw pain.
• Magnesium-rich Foods: Your diet must have leafy greens, avocados, bananas, beans, legumes, yogurt, chia seeds, and brown rice to relax your strained muscles.
• Hydrating Options: You should also include veggies or fruits like cucumbers, melons, and broth-based soups to prevent jaw muscle stiffness.
• Enough Protein: You don’t need to have hard meat like steaks. Tofu and soft-cooked beans can meet your daily protein requirement without straining your jaw.

Foods to Avoid for TMJ Relief

Nearly 11 million Americans struggle with TMJ pain. So let’s also focus on foods that worsen TMJ pain and are best to skip for people struggling with TMD:

• Hard or Crunchy Snacks: Anything that stresses your jaw is not good for you. Chips, nuts, and raw carrots fall into this category.
• Chewy Items: Do you love bagels, candies, and gum? If yes, there’s a bad news for you. All these aggravate TMJ symptoms and exacerbate the pain.
• Processed Foods: Sugary drinks and packaged snacks increase joint inflammation. It also affects jaw muscles and leads to TMD. 
• Caffeine and Alcohol: A cup of coffee might boost your mood and energy level. A glass of wine might relax you after a long day. But both of these can lead to jaw clenching or jaw muscle tension that can deteriorate your jaw health.
• Acidic Foods: While citrus fruits and tomatoes are beneficial for your overall health, they also pose the risk of triggering jaw pain in some cases.

TMJ pain relief foods can significantly reduce jaw pain and inflammation. If you want personalized TMJ pain relief tips & tricks, contact us today.