Habits to Avoid If You Have TMJ Disorder

Surprisingly, many people who have TMJ Disorder, or who are flirting with it, often have habits, usually unconscious ones, that exacerbate this condition. Most, of course, have no idea that these habits or activities can cause undue stress on an already stressed jaw.

Gum Chewing

Chewing gum can put tremendous stress on jaw joints. People who have full blown cases of TMJD are aware of this and seldom chew gum, but many people who have lesser symptoms may not always equate gum chewing with TMJD, particularly if one's symptoms don't include pain but only include things like "popping" or crackling of the jaw. Popping and crackling jaw joints are only a prelude of what is to follow!

Chewing Ice

How many times have you sat around crunching on ice? Even chewing on shaved ice can put amazing stress on the jaw joints, not to mention that chomping on ice can crack and break teeth. This is a difficult habit to break. Ice chomping must be in one's DNA, for ice chompers revert to chomping and chewing ice no matter how hard they try not to. This is a BAD habit, and it's particularly bad for people with TMJD!

Chewing Pencils, Pens, Fingernails

This is another habit that is very detrimental to teeth and to jaw joints. It's also probably the most unsanitary habit there is if one considers who else may have handled the pencil or pen, and what else your fingers may have touched that is covered with germs and gross bacteria. Keep things out of your mouth. If you are a chewer and a chomper, this is very difficult. But if you have TMJD, it is essential that you not stress your jaw joints by chomping and grinding away on foreign objects.

Hard Candy

Please, don't even put a hard candy in your mouth if you are a chewer/chomper. The odds are, no matter how careful you are, that you are going to eventually chomp on the candy. Granted, you may wait until it's a tiny sliver or morsel, but you're going to do it. Avoid hard candy, and even avoid licorice and all those hard, chewy treats.

Toothpicks Count Too

If you're a natural born chomper/chewer, even using a toothpick can lead to some heavy duty chewing, especially if you leave the toothpick in your mouth for any length of time.

TMJD and Swallowing Disorders

If you have a bad case of TMJD the odds are that you may also develop a swallowing disorder. This disorder may range from slight to serious. TMJD is not a condition to be blown off or taken lightly, even if you aren't in pain. The throat muscles also can become involved along with the jaw muscles. Treat this condition seriously. Find out what is causing your TMJD and address this issue. TMJD is not a 'normal' condition. Something causes this and it seems that the cause of every case of TMJD is different. Don't continue habits that will lead to further complications of swallowing disorders.

There is speculation that vitamin deficiencies may be the root cause of this disorder; obviously, jaw or facial injury can lead to TMJD also. Some are suggesting that the condition may be hereditary. Sometimes dental procedures can cause a temporary bout of TMJD. No matter the cause, take this condition seriously and protect your jaws from further injury. NO MORE CHEWING and CHOMPING!