Botox can be helpful for some people with Temporomandibular Disorders, but it is not considered a first-line therapy. Conservative management should be the first choice and if symptoms don’t improve enough, Dr. Benavent does offer Botox for the jaw. However, Botox isn’t meant to be an ongoing “forever treatment.” After a series of injections, the symptoms hopefully improve enough for the Botox to be discontinued.

Basically, “cut it up or cook it to death” for a few weeks to give your jaw time to heal…

The extent to which foods may be cut, chopped, or pureed varies with your discomfort or pain and jaw opening. The guidelines provided are intended to help patients select healthful and preferred foods and enjoy eating. Overall principles include the following: cut all foods well, select moist foods or use gravies or sauces to moisten foods to a comfortable consistency, peel fruits (except berries) and vegetables, chop whole foods to consistencies that can be comfortably tolerated, limit jaw opening to what is comfortable, take small bites of food, and chew slowly.

Adapted from this article in JADA (Journal of the American Dental Association).

Fruits

• Peel all fruits with hard or chewy skin (for example, apples, peaches, plums, pears).

• Chop whole (peeled) fruits.

• Use the blender to puree or “sauce” any fruits.

• Make smoothies with any peeled fruits in the blender, adding ice, milk (cow, soy, almond), or yogurt.

Vegetables

• Wash, steam, or cook greens such as spinach, chard, kale, or collards for 2 to 3 minutes, finely chop into a ribbonlike thickness.

• Chop tomatoes.

• Peel and finely chop cucumbers.

• Peel and either shred or finely chop or mince root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or beets. If chopped, cook after chopping.

• Cook broccoli, cauliflower, or other similar vegetables until tender, then chop.

• For patients who like “juicing,” suggest that they juice or make smoothies with any vegetables by following the juicing machine instructions. Similarly, if the patient is unable to eat whole pieces of vegetables, suggest making vegetable soups and purees.

• Peel, cook until tender, and chop other vegetables with skin.

• Cook, chop, and mash potatoes (white or sweet).

• As needed or desired, use a blender to convert vegetables into juices or try purchasing commercial vegetable or tomato juices.

Legumes and Nuts

• Cook legumes and mash or puree legumes that are larger than the size of a pea.

• Use nut butters (any nuts can be used).

Protein Foods

• Cook poultry or meats until tender; moisten with broth, gravies, or other sauces; and cut into bite-size pieces.

• Cook and cut fish into bite-size pieces, soften with sauces as desired; make into tuna salad.

• Chop tofu and tempeh into bite-size pieces; tempeh may need moistening.

Dairy

• Consume all milk products, yogurt, and cheese as tolerated.

Dairy Alternatives

• If the patient experiences difficulty or is unable to eat protein foods or nut butters, try alternatives such as meal replacement beverages (for example, instant breakfast and whey protein beverages or powder).

Grains

• Prepare hot cereals.

• Try couscous, quinoa, farro, rice, and other cooked grains.

• Cook orzo and other small pasta until tender.

• Cut thin toast into small pieces.