Do I need an appliance or device to change my bite if I have TMJ?
Short answer: no! Changing your teeth is not considered an evidence-based treatment for temporomandibular disorder (TMD…aka “TMJ”).
A KFF Health News (KHN)/CBS News investigation explored the irreversible damage that these devices can cause. The FDA has also issued a safety warning against these kinds of appliances that claim to treat TMD pain with bite changes.
Do I need Botox for my TMJ?
Dr. Benavent does provide Botox injections to the jaw muscles—and for some nerve pain conditions—but this is generally not a first-line intervention.
Botox for TMD is actually administered to your jaw muscles, not the jaw joint. You can ask your insurance for their written Botox policy (usually available in pdf form). It will list what conditions are covered. Some insurances allow the use of Botox for “myofascial pain” which may work for you if your pain is caused by the muscles. You can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, and they may consider covering it.
What should I eat if I have TMJ?
Basically: “cut it up or cook it to death” for a few weeks to allow your jaw muscles time to heal.
The extent to which foods may be cut, chopped, or pureed varies with the extent of the patient’s 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 (with the exception of berries) and vegetables that have skin, chop whole foods to consistencies that can be comfortably tolerated, limit jaw opening to the extent that is comfortable, take small bites of food, and chew slowly. Adapted from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2016.04.016
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.
Am I clenching or grinding?
This article in the Journal of the American Dental Association has more information, including morning jaw pain as a red flag for grinding at night:
Find out more about TMJ/TMD at the National Institutes of Health:
Including links to informational brochures and ongoing TMJ studies:
Does Dr. Benavent treat burning mouth?
Yes, Dr. Benavent has worked with many burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients over the years. There are many treatment options, including multidisciplinary interventions. For many patients, the pain is manageable!
Does Dr. Benavent treat trigeminal neuralgia?
Yes! Dr. Benavent works with many trigeminal (TN) patients and offers a variety of nonsurgical intervention options. Although TN is rare in the general population, board-certified OFP providers work with people with TN very often.
Does Dr. Benavent see patients with [my rare diagnosis]?
Board-certified OFP practitioners like Dr. Benavent can see some pretty rare and confounding stuff like atypical presentations of cluster headache, SUNCT, SUNA, paroxysmal hemicrania, trigeminal neuralgia, burning mouth, along with the more common presentations like migraine, TMD, and sleep apnea. Please reach out if you’d like to know more.