TMJ or TMD is extremely painful. The pain from this disorder stops you from functioning the way you are used to. It is temporomandibular joint disorder and it targets the joint that is connected to your jawbone. When that joint becomes inflamed, that’s when the unimaginable pain begins. That joint is a hinge that connects the jaw to the bones of the skull, which are located in front of each ear. The joint controls your ability to chew, talk, and to yawn. Essentially, it controls how you move your jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorder can be painful if you do a range of things. Just eating certain foods can cause a flare-up. Doctors have not determined what causes this disorder. Many believe that it may be from existing issues with the jaw. They also believe that an injury to the muscle or to the jaw itself can cause the disorder. Other causes they suggest are arthritis in the joint, clenching or grinding your teeth, and stress which causes a person to tighten jaw or facial muscles. The symptoms of this disorder are discomfort and pain. It can last a few days or it can linger for a few years. It targets adults 20 to 40 years of age. One of the most common symptoms is trouble chewing foods. In order to eliminate some of the pain of chewing, there are some soft foods that can help.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a soft food that is good for people with TMD. When you have jaw pain, the last thing you need is to chew hard foods. Chewing a soft food like mashed potatoes will prevent pain from creeping up. Mashed potatoes are good because not only are they soft but they are also liquid. This makes consuming this food easier. If you have severe pain, you might have to use a straw to eat the mashed potatoes.
Jello
Jello is another soft food that will limit the pain in your jaw. Since jello is soft, instead of chewing it you can mash it with the top of your mouth, if you are experiencing a lot of pain. Jello comes in a range of flavors, so you will have variety.
Rice
Rice can only be consumed if it is cooked extremely soft. Rice is a good for people suffering temporomandibular joint disorder because when cooked it becomes soft and can be consumed in small bites. When eating rice, refrain from eating big bites because that movement can cause more pain.