Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing Michigan
Following dietary guidelines for a healthy lifestyle, eating in a calorie deficit, and working out regularly yet not seeing the scale move, even in the slightest, can make you feel discouraged in your weight loss efforts. Many individuals deal with the challenges of losing weight and the struggle is even worse when you battle chronic pain like temporomandibular joint disease or TMJ disorder (TMJD). It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get moving or you may cut your workouts short because of the chronic pain. Additionally, finding healthy food options that you can enjoy yet not aggravate your TMJD can also be challenging. So today on the blog, we share some surprising links between TMJ disorder and weight loss to help you reach your desired fitness level and minimize jaw pain if you suffer from TMJD.
Consume a Healthy Diet
What you eat plays a crucial role in managing weight, or losing weight, but TMJ disorder can wreck even the best made plans. You may set out to enjoy fresh apples or crunchy veggies, only to discover that eating these foods flare up your jaw pain. TMJ disorder can make eating healthy foods difficult, although you can still get the nutrition and nutrients that your body needs by using fresh or frozen fruits and veggies in a smoothie or cook your veggies and add them to a soup. These options are easy and quick ways to ensure your body gets enough fruits and vegetables in your day without causing jaw pain. Additionally, we recommend consuming minimal amounts of sugar or none, if you can swing it, because sugar causes inflammation which may aggravate pain in the jaw or elsewhere throughout the body.
Reduce Inflammation
Speaking of inflammation, it has a strong link to diabetes, weight gain, and gum disease. There are many reasons the body responds with an inflammatory response, which could be environmental factors like allergens, but sugar is one of the known culprits of causing inflammation. Diabetes is labeled an inflammatory disease. Type 1 diabetes causes chronic inflammation of the pancreas and Type 2 diabetes is thought to provide an inflammatory response from the body’s immune system. Additionally, obesity or carrying extra pounds could cause systemic inflammation and lead to insulin resistance, heart disease, or diabetes. And gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mouth that is responsible for bad breath, receding gums, loose teeth, cavities, and tooth loss. Furthermore, TMJ disorder is directly related to jaw joint inflammation and if you’re trying to reduce jaw joint inflammation and TMJD symptoms, it’s best to limit sugar consumption.
Exercise Regularly
Experts recommend getting some sort of movement like a light walk daily. Aim for at least a 20–30-minute walk or split your walks up throughout the day. Additionally, it is recommended that you exercise at least 3-4 or more times a week. By exercising, we mean elevating your heart rate for a sustained amount of time. However, we recommend consulting with your primary care provider before starting any exercise routine to ensure you exercise within your physical limitations and do not overexert yourself. Exercising could include swimming, water aerobics, tennis, basketball, biking, running, lifting weights, high intensity workouts, or aerobics. The idea is to elevate your heart rate more than when you take a light stroll. Regular exercise helps increase your blood oxygenation, lose weight, and reduce inflammation, which can help alleviate, not cure, TMJ disorder.
TMJ Dentist in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Attempting to maintain a healthy weight while dealing with TMJ disorder can be a struggle. But living a healthy lifestyle and managing TMJD pain go hand in hand. It’s important to eat a balanced diet, reduce systemic inflammation, and exercise regularly, which are all proven factors in living an overall healthier life. However, these factors can also help people struggling with TMJ disorder. In many cases, however, TMJD sufferers may still require help from a qualified TMJ dentist in East Lansing to manage pain. To learn more about TMJ disorder treatment, contact Tenaglia Smiles today at (517) 347-6733.