If you have TMJ, however, it’s important that you go into Thanksgiving and the holiday season being mindful of foods that can exacerbate the condition and make your jaw inflamed. To help you feel more comfortable and enjoy the holidays more with your family, we have created a list of foods to stay away from— trust us, you’ll be thankful.
Roasted Nuts
“Nuts roasting by the fire”– yep, it’s that time of year. Although nuts are considered to be a lean protein, when they’re covered in butter, drenched in sugar, and then roasted— they’re more of a dessert food than anything. And although roasted peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and cashews are delicious, they are only going to make your TMJ worse. Try to stay away from this snack this season.
Hard Rolls
Dinner rolls are delicious— especially when they’re soft, hot, and just out of the oven. But if your family likes to eat harder artisanal bread, you may want to consider passing. Although this type of bread is delicious, it’s hard to chew which means that it’s only going to make your TMJ a little worse and more irritated.
Pecan Pie
Depending on the pecan pie, you may want to skip out on it and go for something softer like a pumpkin or apple pie. Some pecan pie recipes make for the stickier consistency which makes your jaw have to work twice as hard— leaving you with a swollen jaw and in a mouthful of pain (literally).
Stay comfortable this holiday season and use the tips listed above to avoid unnecessary TMJ pain.
Schedule your appointment at our Ft. Lauderdale office today!
