diagnosed with TMJ, need soft food ideas!

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Replies

  • jlwbeans0823
    jlwbeans0823 Posts: 178 Member
    Mashed butternut squash/sweet potatoes. Hope you feel better!
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    Hey! Sorry to hear about the TMJ. I was really sick last year and was restricted to liquids (and then clear fluids) for two months sp maybe I can help. Here are my suggestions:

    Boost and/or Ensure (however, I personally prefer the Carnation Instant Breafast powders that you mix with real milk)
    Low-Sodium Soups (or you can make some from scratch)
    Jello (I personally detest it but you may not)
    Yogurt
    Eggs/Egg Whites
    Oatmeal
    Organic/Sugar-Free Apple Sauce
    Low-Sodium V8
    Hummus
    Cottage Cheese
    Quinoa/Brown Rice
    Rice Krispies/Corn Flakes
    Mashed potatoe/carrots/turnips/cauliflower
    Bananas
    Avocados
    Tuna Salad/Egg Salad
    Fruit Smoothies

    thank you! i have my protein shakes and bought ready brek today as i find oats too chewy right now lol
    jello...that's jelly right? i didn't even think of that. YUM :happy:
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    You should experiment with smoothies! You can load so much nutrients in to them. Also, oatmeal is great too. You can cook almost anything up in to it and it will be come soft, warm and delicious.
    Also:
    Homemade soups, stews
    Mashed Cauliflower
    Bananas
    Roasted Apples
    Curries or stir fries (simmered so everything becomes soft: chickpeas, tofu, broccoli, carrots, etc)

    thank you :) so glad it's autumn nearly because i don't know what i'd eat haha
    i feel like an old woman with all these mashed and pureed ideas lol
  • vick9180
    vick9180 Posts: 144 Member
    I have TMJ disorder...I went to a specialist and got an orthotic for my mouth. Could your dentist refer you to someone like that? The orthotic forced my lower jaw forward so I wasn't clenching and it kept the little discs from sliding out of the joint, which is what causes the popping. My headaches have subsided and I no longer have any clicking or popping or jaw pain. I have no limitations on what types of food I can eat. The orthotic basically forces the muscles into the correct position and after just a few weeks, they stay that way. When I first got the orthotic, I wore it at night and anytime I was doing things that didn't require a lot of talking. And after the first few months, I only wore it to sleep, and now I very rarely use it and haven't had any issues.

    hmm i'll ask about this when i go back in 2 weeks. thank you.

    my top jaw is too far forward and my lower is too far back. So yeah, maybe i need something like you had. I'm petrified of clicking in case it locks and i really don't fancy having it put back in place.

    Yes, ask! It was such a good thing for me. It took some getting used to, but the relief I've had because of it has been wonderful! The way that it's designed would prevent you from putting your thumb in your mouth at night too. It has a ramp on the bottom so your bottom teeth slide into place, and since it's a really hard plastic, your thumb wouldn't fit! As you adapt, they shave part of the ramp off so it becomes more comfortable to wear.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    Mashed butternut squash/sweet potatoes. Hope you feel better!

    i will defo try that combo! love butternut squash soup but i can never make it right lol

    thank you! i do too. My teeth didn't hurt this morning because i didn't suck my thumb so fingers crossed this will work!
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    Take anything put it in...aaaanndd done.


    56221_hero.jpg&sa=X&ei=X9tAUNquEMPEyQHmhICYAw&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHYG70lUQ2zDBG8a9I-GKav6BOBpQ



    Seriously though though I have jaw issues too, I know how you feel.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    CHILI!

    I hear you. I have SEVERE TMJ problems and can't get them taken care of. Dental doesn't cover it and very few doctors will. The only doctor I found requires a $1500 deposit just for a consultation!
  • apedeb09
    apedeb09 Posts: 805 Member
    Soup!! When I had a tooth infection, I could barely even open my jaw to eat so I had to have soup everyday... I swear corn chowder saved my life! :laugh:
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    I have TMJ disorder...I went to a specialist and got an orthotic for my mouth. Could your dentist refer you to someone like that? The orthotic forced my lower jaw forward so I wasn't clenching and it kept the little discs from sliding out of the joint, which is what causes the popping. My headaches have subsided and I no longer have any clicking or popping or jaw pain. I have no limitations on what types of food I can eat. The orthotic basically forces the muscles into the correct position and after just a few weeks, they stay that way. When I first got the orthotic, I wore it at night and anytime I was doing things that didn't require a lot of talking. And after the first few months, I only wore it to sleep, and now I very rarely use it and haven't had any issues.

    hmm i'll ask about this when i go back in 2 weeks. thank you.

    my top jaw is too far forward and my lower is too far back. So yeah, maybe i need something like you had. I'm petrified of clicking in case it locks and i really don't fancy having it put back in place.

    Yes, ask! It was such a good thing for me. It took some getting used to, but the relief I've had because of it has been wonderful! The way that it's designed would prevent you from putting your thumb in your mouth at night too. It has a ramp on the bottom so your bottom teeth slide into place, and since it's a really hard plastic, your thumb wouldn't fit! As you adapt, they shave part of the ramp off so it becomes more comfortable to wear.

    i would probably find a way to fit it in there haha i used a sock lastnight on my hand!

    i feel like there is a lot of pressure being put on the bottom jaw. I will make a note :)
  • TxAngel79
    TxAngel79 Posts: 318 Member
    I have severe TMJ, actually woke up this morning with my jaw real sore and tight! However I don't eat a soft food diet! My Dr told me not to chew gum as much! There is a lot they can do for it!! Look into it! I wish you the best of luck!!
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    CHILI!

    I hear you. I have SEVERE TMJ problems and can't get them taken care of. Dental doesn't cover it and very few doctors will. The only doctor I found requires a $1500 deposit just for a consultation!

    really? that's crazy! i'm in the uk and can get it done on the nhs. not that they did anything, just got exercises and told to stop sucking my thumb and go from there. if it gets worse i was told to go back, hope it doesn't!

    have you done any exercises? you can buy night guards online too but i was told not to bother with them and if i need to ever have one, to get it properly fitted.
  • ogriffix
    ogriffix Posts: 42
    Cottage cheese
    Black beans with shredded cheddar and non fat sour cream
    Apple sauce
    Polenta
    Home made creamy tomato, dutch cheese, navy bean or pea soup (I am a chef and have recipes for all)
    Spring vegetable fritatta
    Spinach and artichoke casserole
    Chicken and aritchoke casserole with basmati rice
    Beef burgandy with egg noodles
    Mushroom ragout (ragu)
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    I have severe TMJ, actually woke up this morning with my jaw real sore and tight! However I don't eat a soft food diet! My Dr told me not to chew gum as much! There is a lot they can do for it!! Look into it! I wish you the best of luck!!

    thanks! hope yours gets better too. it's better if i lay on my side.

    use a hot water bottle. I <3 mine
  • Soft food is a breeze.

    There are so many different ways to make food soft like we do for little ones who only have a couple of teeth.

    Gosh forget mashed potato's think twice baked potato. Bake is mash it and add what you like, sour cream, cheese just to mention a couple.

    Mac and cheese, apple sauce, spaghetti with meat sauce. Smashed sweet potato, cream corn. Cream corn can be made into casseroles. My family loves the Beaumont Corn Pudding recipe.

    Of course everything in moderation.

    Good luck.
  • Asha0714
    Asha0714 Posts: 88
    Do you like chicken? A bag of boneless / skinless chicken is pretty inexpensive.

    Toss it in the crock pot for a few hours (depending on the size) and it's turn out really soft. Not like mushy gross soft but it's very easy to cut and just falls apart.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I lost a lot of weight (in a not-good way) with TMJ so I'm not the best one for food suggestions. I just had a lot of Slim Fast shakes (wish I'd known then about protein shakes instead, but I thought if one Slim Fast is a meal replacement for someone dieting, I'd just have two...but they're not very nutritionally sound) and mashed potatoes with cheese melted in it. At it's worst, I could only open my mouth 11mm without pain and I had a slipped disc in the jaw joint.

    But getting the right treatment (in my case it was a bite guard and getting it adjusted regularly) allowed my jaw to align better. I'm practically a pez dispenser now. :happy:

    Sometimes I still have minor issues. Sometimes it locks up when I'm running, and sometimes it gets really sore if I have too much of something too chewy, like beef jerky.

    But overall... just make sure things are cut into small pieces. I learned to partially "chew" with my tongue. Chicken cooked in a crock pot is super tender, without feeling like you're eating baby food. Avoid "big mouth" foods like subs, burgers and bagels.
  • WifeNMama
    WifeNMama Posts: 2,876 Member
    for thumb sucking: put a sock or a mitten over your hand and fasten with masking tape rolled a few time around your wrist. Tape your thumb against your hand before the sock if you have to. You can't suck on it if you can't find it. :-)
  • for thumb sucking: put a sock or a mitten over your hand and fasten with masking tape rolled a few time around your wrist. Tape your thumb against your hand before the sock if you have to. You can't suck on it if you can't find it. :-)

    This is what i have been doing lol so embarrassing that i still do it!
    When i have kids I'm not going to let them do it.
  • I lost a lot of weight (in a not-good way) with TMJ so I'm not the best one for food suggestions. I just had a lot of Slim Fast shakes (wish I'd known then about protein shakes instead, but I thought if one Slim Fast is a meal replacement for someone dieting, I'd just have two...but they're not very nutritionally sound) and mashed potatoes with cheese melted in it. At it's worst, I could only open my mouth 11mm without pain and I had a slipped disc in the jaw joint.

    But getting the right treatment (in my case it was a bite guard and getting it adjusted regularly) allowed my jaw to align better. I'm practically a pez dispenser now. :happy:

    Sometimes I still have minor issues. Sometimes it locks up when I'm running, and sometimes it gets really sore if I have too much of something too chewy, like beef jerky.

    But overall... just make sure things are cut into small pieces. I learned to partially "chew" with my tongue. Chicken cooked in a crock pot is super tender, without feeling like you're eating baby food. Avoid "big mouth" foods like subs, burgers and bagels.

    slim fast shakes are just weird. i did use them last year and then discovered protein shakes! yay. i swear that the black forest one made me tingle in my arms and face. had a few sips and was almost instant....

    my pain keeps coming and going. this morning i could open my mouth without having to slide it to the side and then go pop, pop lol but it won't now. I have to have a tiny filling in a couple of weeks and really hoping it doesn't lock!

    i am going to ask about some kind of guard to push my bottom jaw forward.

    thanks for the suggestions! mashed potato with cheese is yummy though!
  • Do you like chicken? A bag of boneless / skinless chicken is pretty inexpensive.

    Toss it in the crock pot for a few hours (depending on the size) and it's turn out really soft. Not like mushy gross soft but it's very easy to cut and just falls apart.

    thanks :) sometimes i eat it. i don't like seeing it raw though haha i won't eat it if i prepare it
  • Soup!! When I had a tooth infection, I could barely even open my jaw to eat so I had to have soup everyday... I swear corn chowder saved my life! :laugh:

    never had corn chowder! just googled it cause i wasn't sure on what was in it lol

    i might make it. don't like cooked celery though so i'll leave that :P thanks

    and ouch! i can only imagine the pain :(
  • Soft food is a breeze.

    There are so many different ways to make food soft like we do for little ones who only have a couple of teeth.

    Gosh forget mashed potato's think twice baked potato. Bake is mash it and add what you like, sour cream, cheese just to mention a couple.

    Mac and cheese, apple sauce, spaghetti with meat sauce. Smashed sweet potato, cream corn. Cream corn can be made into casseroles. My family loves the Beaumont Corn Pudding recipe.

    Of course everything in moderation.

    Good luck.

    :O sour cream! thanks for reminding me about that. i love the stuff!!
    thank you :)
  • I suffer from TMJ but generally i eat fairly normal. I can't have gum, toffees etc..or crunchy things such as nuts. If my jaw flares, i tend to stick to homemade soups, stews, fish pies that i know i'll be able to break down with my tongue without having to put any pressure on my jaw.
  • jarahs20
    jarahs20 Posts: 2 Member
    This just happened to me as well. So far I have found smoothies, eggs, beans, soft chicken, rice, soup, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, creamed corn and yogurt to be my new foods. Also, it is amazing what a blender can do. If you REALLY want something blend it! Pinterest has ideas for us. I feel your friend!!!
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    Beans are easy to mush up in blender.....you can add cottage cheese to smoothies.Mine is made from low fat yogurt,fruit (fresh or frozen) & water or skim milk. Don't forget baby foods....very soft & easy to add to smoothies or soup.Can use refried beans.....creamed corn,creamed spinach.Baked sweet potatoes.Baked apple,cream soup.You won't go hungry!
  • becky10rp
    becky10rp Posts: 573 Member
    I have TMJ - as another person stated, I grind my teeth at night. I wear a mouth guard at night - have been using it for the past 10+ years - no longer wake up in pain. You might want to check this out.
  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    jarahs20 wrote: »
    This just happened to me as well. So far I have found smoothies, eggs, beans, soft chicken, rice, soup, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, creamed corn and yogurt to be my new foods. Also, it is amazing what a blender can do. If you REALLY want something blend it! Pinterest has ideas for us. I feel your friend!!!

    This is a nearly FIVE year old thread. I don't think the OP is still looking for help.
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