Soft Diet: Improving TMD Symptoms Naturally

The temporomandibular joint, TMJ, is an important part of our oral health and often is one of the most difficult parts of our muscular and joint system in terms of healing from trauma or infection. When suffering from pain in the TMJ region, your doctor may diagnose you with a health risk known as temporomandibular joint disease, TMD, for which traditional medical care and natural treatment must be used to alleviate symptoms. For many TMD sufferers, this means changing lifestyle and may even require a change to eating habits.

Because the TMJ is a component of the jaw that ensures we can open and close the mouth, align the teeth for proper chewing, and engage in speech, keeping it healthy is important to quality of life. For patients who have pain with the TMJ, a change to diet may provide the key to boosting the healing process after an infection, or injury, of the TMJ occurs. .

A soft diet is the choice of many TMD sufferers as this often provides the same nutrients you need to survive but also gives the temporomandibular joint a break from constant crushing and movement. When we refer to a soft diet, what we are simply referring to is the consumption of foods that are easy to swallow with limited need for chewing. This does not mean, however, that you must go to a liquid diet. Instead, eat foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, yogurt, and oatmeal as these are all soft and provide your body with the nutrients you need for healing.

For some TMD sufferers, the use of a juicing machine becomes quite common when the TMJ joint becomes flared and painful. Because TMD is a lifelong health complication, with periodic moments of peak pain, the juicing machine can be used to "juice down" the solid foods you like to eat and give your body the option to consume those foods in liquid form. So, if you have TMD, and if you are concerned about eating certain more solid foods, then consider purchasing a juicer for this reason.

A soft food diet, in most cases, is not a lifelong, every day process for those with TMD. Once you have alleviated your pain and complication, you can return to a normal diet until such time as the pain is a problem again. Always remaining aware of your health risks is key to ensuring you have the best possible outcome and this may require that you give in and consume a soft diet while your body heals.

Sources: Staying Healthy: Dental Care, by Alice McGinty