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.
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