Holidays + TMJ

The holidays…days full of food, family, activities, traditions and creating new memories. The weather is getting colder and the days are getting shorter, but that doesn’t mean the likelihood of experiencing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain decreases at all. The holiday season can be especially difficult for those who have been diagnosed with TMJ.

For those working to manage their TMJ pain and symptoms this holiday season, here are a few ways you can enjoy this time with family and friends:

Food:
So much of the holiday season revolves around food. Whether it’s food at holiday dinners and meals, hors d’oeuvres at a party or desserts while spending time with friends, food is often integral to activities during the holiday. If you are living the TMJ pain, food can be intimidating, especially if you’re trying something new or are unaware of all the ingredients in the dish.

To keep your TMJ symptoms at bay throughout the holiday season, keep these tips in mind:
• Try to stay away from hard, crunchy or chewy foods. Avoid the veggie tray at the party, dishes made with nuts and candy canes on the dessert table.
•Don’t experiment too much when it comes to food. If you’re unsure about the ingredients in a dish, either ask or avoid it—taking a chance may not be worth the pain it causes after the meal is finished.

Activities:
The holidays are full of fun activities to do with family and friends. But, they can be more complicated when you’re managing TMJ pain. When you’re planning your holiday schedule, think about your health and stamina first.

• Holiday Shopping –
This can be an extremely stressful holiday activity, but it can be less stressful with some advance planning. If you have holiday shopping to finish up, plan to do it on non-weekend days when there are less people at the mall. To completely reduce your shopping stress, consider finishing your shopping online to beat the lines and traffic.

• Outdoor Activities –
With temperatures dropping and snow starting to fall, spending time doing things outdoors can seem like fun. But, the cold temperatures can cause increased TMJ pain and aggravated symptoms. To keep your pain to a minimum, minimize the amount of time you spend outside—watch younger family members build snowmen from inside the house, check out light displays from inside the car and go ice skating for short amounts of time.

This holiday season, don’t let your TMJ pain get the best of you. With some planning and awareness, you can enjoy the holidays with friends and family and without the fear of TMJ pain. If you need help managing your TMJ pain, Dr. Mitakides and the staff at the TMJ Treatment Center are here to help. For more than 40 years, Dr. Mitakides has been diagnosing and treating TMJ. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Mitakides or give us a call today at 937-427-3131.