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TMJ Disorder Research & Health News Weekly Round-Up – Third Week of May

You may have wondered why we’ve been a little quiet over the past two weeks. Well, now you can see why! We have had our hands full with the new addition to the family. She is insanely cute, but has more energy than any puppy I have ever met. Sometimes I wonder if someone switched her water with Red Bull when I wasn’t looking! So, now TMJ Hope has an adorable mascot! 🙂

In other news, we had a great article about choosing a protein powder this week that you’ll definitely want to read. Leave a comment on the post if you have a favorite type or brand – your comment could help someone avoid all the trial and error of finding a protein powder. There are also some tips at the end of that post that really made the difference for me when I was on a liquid diet (and I still use the tips now that I’m on a soft diet). Click here for the protein powder blog post.

We also published an article on TMJ arthroplasty – open joint surgery. Please let us know if you have any questions or if there is anything you would like us to add to the article!

Now, on to new research! There have been several interesting pieces of research in the past couple months that I would like to cover:Read More »TMJ Disorder Research & Health News Weekly Round-Up – Third Week of May

Choosing Protein Powder After Jaw Surgery (& How to Avoid the Gross Aftertaste)

There are a few things that you should be looking at when trying to find a protein supplement that is right for you. Whether you are looking for a protein powder that will serve as a protein booster because you are having trouble getting the recommended amount of protein or as a meal replacement after jaw surgery, you will need to know what the different types are, the ingredients, nutritional value, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The choice of which protein supplement you choose will depend on several factors:

  • How long has the product been on the market?
  • How long is the list of ingredients?
  • Is there any feedback available?
  • Is it a supplement or a meal replacement?
  • Will it be used as a weight loss or weight gain tool?
  • Are you lactose or soy intolerant?
  • Do you have allergies?
  • Where will you consume it?  If at home you have the luxury of using a blender,
    and adding other products such as fruit and yogurt. If you are at the office you
    will be far more limited in preparation and may opt for pre-made shakes.

Taste is one of the most important factors……it doesn’t matter how good the the protein powder is if you can’t manage to swallow it!

Most protein powders come in small packets….try it before you purchase a large container.
Research your options since there are hundreds of products on the market. You will want to find one that has a high quality protein, is free of additional supplements, and low in fat and sugar.Read More »Choosing Protein Powder After Jaw Surgery (& How to Avoid the Gross Aftertaste)

10 Tips from TMJ Disorder Expert Patients


We have compiled this list of tips from a group of expert TMJ disorder patients..  simple things they do to make living with TMJ disorder and jaw pain easier.  We hope they help you!  As always, let us know in the comments below if you have your own tips or any suggestions.

  1. A bag of frozen peas or corn makes a great ice pack for your jaw! They can be molded to your face or jaw and stay cold for quite a while.  Just make sure you mark which veggies you are using as an ice pack so you don’t cook them for dinner! 🙂
  2. A coffee bean grinder is a good way to make crunchy, hard to eat items like roasted nuts, granola, and corn chips more edible if you have pain when chewing or a small opening.
  3. Smoothies can be pre-made in batches and frozen in ice cube trays. Then, pop them out of the ice cube trays and store them in zip lock bags in the freezer.  That way you have smoothies on demand and don’t have to destroy the kitchen every time you are hungry!
  4. A good blender can end up being your new best friend. After wearing a few out, we like blenders that have multiple speeds & levels.  Juicers are great too – just make sure you use organic fruits and veggies & clean them before juicing since you don’t want wax or chemicals in your juices!  When choosing a juicer, be very careful because this is one area that has not come out with a cheap version that still does a good job.  Magic Bullets (despite the cheesy infomercials!) can be handy to make single serving smoothies, soups, and other foods very quickly.  If you prepare by buying any of these items before your surgery, test drive them by making several meals and freezing them so you will have food ready to go when you get home.
    Read More »10 Tips from TMJ Disorder Expert Patients