Are you someone who gravitates toward extremely hard foods because you love the crunch factor? Perhaps you find yourself frequently eating chewy or sticky food that can take quite a while to chew, break down, and swallow. While the particular texture of your food selections may not have ever been something you thought much about, it may be time to start! Did you know that when you choose such items, you may be making your jaws vulnerable to damage or you may even be making an existing case of TMJ disorder worse? It’s true!
Forceful Chewing Stresses TMJs
When you give your jaw joints more work than they are prepared to handle, you can overwork them, cause them to become stressed and strained, and that means bad news for your TMJs. This can lead to TMJ disorder or make it much worse. When we discuss forceful chewing, we mean you should avoid biting into things that are too hard for your jaws to work through.
Extensive Chewing Exhausts Jaw Joints
Now, let’s talk less about force and more about asking your jaw joints to work for much too long. This isn’t overworking them but forcing them into overtime. When they move and move and move, they can become fatigued and damaged. Don’t do this if what you want is to protect yourself from worsening TMJ disorder.
Cut Food Down, Make Better Choices, Take It Easy
So, what to do now that you know the hard stuff is too hard and the chewy stuff and sticky stuff takes too long to break down? First, cut food into bites if that helps. Get rid of foods that you cannot do anything about (if they’re too hard, chewy, or sticky no matter what, dismiss them from your life!). Next, see our team. You’ll need TMJ treatment to address the problem.
Come To Our Practice For TMJ Treatment
Ready for relief for your TMJs? Come in to talk with us about how TMJ treatment can greatly improve your oral health. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI today at (248) 852-1820.
