Diet Ideas for Sore Teeth | Precautions for a Tender Jaw Joint
Diet Ideas for Sore Teeth
Braces may cause discomfort (tender teeth) for a day or two. Blending foods or cutting them into small portions can ensure that patients continue to eat nutritious foods during this time.
Suggestions:
Protein
- Add cheddar cheese cubes to bouillon, or other hot soups.
- Add several spoonfuls of cottage cheese to hot tomato soup.
- Pour a well-beaten egg into boiling chicken bouillon. Skim off the foam. It will taste like Chinese restaurant egg flower soup.
- Prepare a hamburger over medium heat slowly. Stir often and break into pieces. Do not let the meat get too crispy.
- Try a cheese soufflé. Even if it falls it will still taste great!
- If you have a meat grinder use it to prepare other meats. You can add a little sauce, gravy or salad dressing.
- Sloppy Joes – (they’re always easy to make!)
- Scrambled eggs
Fruits
- Fruit juices
- Frozen fruit juices
- Fresh fruit smoothie
- Prepare fresh, uncooked applesauce. Peel the apples, cut them into chunks and place them in a blender with a little sugar and a dash of cinnamon.
- Blend a banana. Add that to a milkshake.
- It can be quite uncomfortable biting or chewing on very cold food with metal braces. Take fruit out of the refrigerator the night before so it will be room temperature by the time you eat breakfast.
Vegetables
- You may be able to eat some cooked vegetables easily. However, you may want to mash them up.
- Salads can be difficult to eat. If you eat a salad, chop the ingredients up very fine.
- Cauliflower, tomatoes, cooked squash, and mashed potatoes are easier to eat than other vegetables.
Dairy
We recommend plain or flavored milk, milkshakes, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, hot chocolate and ice cream.
Lunches
Whole wheat bread with kernels of grain is nutritious. But for just a couple of days, eat soft wheat or white bread without the kernels of grain. You can apply deviled egg or ham, or tuna to the sandwich. It will not cause much discomfort. Gelatin, pudding or soft fruits in a can or plastic container are great snack options. Hot soup is another great lunch option. Place it in a thermos and put it in your knapsack or lunch bag. Do not eat bologna, salami, hard cheese or roast beef. These items are difficult to chew.
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Precautions for the Tender Jaw Joint
- Eat a soft diet. Do not eat foods that are difficult to chew or that will put stress on the joint. For example: French bread, raw vegetables, corn nuts, popcorn, steak and chewing gum.
- Avoid over-opening your mouth, particularly when yawning and sneezing. Opening your mouth too wide is likely to stretch the ligaments and muscles of the jaw beyond their ability to heal. Placing your fist under your chin can prevent you from opening your mouth too wide.
- Avoid clenching your teeth together. It stresses the pad and ligaments of the joint.
- To relax the muscles of the face: With your lips together and teeth apart, place the tip of your tongue on a spot on the palate just behind the front teeth.
- Do not lean on your jaw, bite your nails or place pencils between your teeth. These actions aggravate the surrounding muscles and joint tissues.
- Avoid bouncing exercises like jogging and jumping rope.
- Keep good posture: Keep your chin tucked in, neck back, shoulders down and back. This reduces the work of the jaw and neck muscles.
- Minimize your intake of sugar, nicotine, or coffee and tea with caffeine. Whereas these substances excite the nervous system, our goal is to relax it. Each day, spend 30 minutes doing some activity to relax your mind. For example: music, meditation, reading, exercise or some other activity you enjoy.
- Apply moist heat to sore muscles for periods of 20 minutes each day.
If you are using a splint
- Wear the splint 24 hours per day, removing it only for cleaning. Be sure to clean it after eating anything. It is especially important to eat with it, as the forces are heavy, and the splint will protect the joint. After your symptoms resolve, part-time wear may be possible.
- If you can, sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees and a small pillow under your head and neck.
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