TMJ Blogger Loses Job Trying to Help TMJD Sufferers

Well, no good deed goes unpunished, so they say, and here's a case in point.

For a year now I've been writing for suite101.com, a fun site to write for as one has a carte blanche when it comes to topics. One of the requests of suite101, however, is that writers not use any articles they post on suite101 for at least a year.

Guess what? That means EVEN BLOGS. Even though I've never been paid one cent for the TMJ Blogs that wellspere.com shares with its readers, I was kind of "invited" to leave the site, despite the fact that I had well over 100 articles that had never been reproduced elsewhere.

So, why did I use the TMJ blogs on their site? For starters, I should have read their contract more closely. I "assumed" (and you all know what "assuming" means) that it was okay since I wasn't being compensated for the articles in any way. I also felt, and still feel - despite my job loss- very strongly that the more ways I can get information out about TMJD the better for so many people. My goal in this entire enterprise has been to HELP people. For that reason, I donate a portion of the sales of my book to PETA and other organizations. This is NOT a money-making venture for me. Rather, it's my contribution to help people who have this excruciatingly painful disease, however I can. In fact, shortly I'll be donating an entire box of books to a dental school! That's 50 books. At 17.95 retail that's over a $897.50 donation. But I got fired anyway.

Since I'm in the confessing mood, I admit I got so frustrated at my book reviews there never being read, that I posted them on True West and amazon. Again, I received no compensation for them...That was bad. I'm guilty. But no one read the things anyway. But, the fact remains, I'm guilty there. I confess. It was only a few book reviews too. I bet the authors appreciate me at least!

Well, I'm really sad about all this to be quite honest. I could understand their anger if I'd been collecting money for my postings, but that would be unethical. What I did was not unethical...what I did was for the benefit of the 50,000,000+ people who suffer from TMJ Disorder.

As I said, no good deed goes unpunished.

Health Care Danger for TMJD Sufferers

I'm not saying this will happen here, but I feel the need to pass this information on. Think the health care debacle won't affect you with your TMJD condition? Think again.

Several months ago, an irate blog reader blasted me with (deserved) criticism about one of my TMJ blogs. Her anger was directed at what she thought was my opinion that clenching and grinding causes ALL cases of TMJD. Anybody who's read my blogs for long, knows that I have clearly stated that NOT ALL cases of TMJD are caused by clenching and grinding, but a good many cases are.

In the process of corresponding with this person, I learned a great deal about her situation. She is suffering horribly, absolutely horribly. Her condition is so debilitating it interferes with her ability to do her work and affects every moment of her life, sleeping and awake..

After consulting doctors and doing the whole run around rigamarole, she was told that she'd probably have to have jaw joint replacement surgery. The wait was TWO YEARS. This, for someone who lives in Canada and must use the Canadian health care no-service program.

I can't imagine being in such pain and so debilitated and having to wait for two years for surgery. Could that happen here? Yes, I think it could. Do I know that for a fact? No. It just seems logical that it will transpire since it seems to be the norm in countries that do have socialized medicine. While it's true that most people don't need to undergo such severe treatment, who would want to have to wait for two years if they did need it?

Many younger people, often the very ones who suffer the most from TMJD, tend not to be involved politically. This is a huge mistake. People must get involved, one way or the other, or suffer the consequences of other peoples' decisions.

Meanwhile, several more dentists have purchased You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes, to keep in their office for patients to read and get ideas from. You can get your own copy at amazon.com, or from www.moonlightmesaassociates.com where you can download an order blank. Dentists agree that easy-to-chew meals contribute greatly to helping with TMJD discomfort.

A Check List for TMJ Disorder Sufferers

For those in the throes of TMJ Disorder, here are some ideas to consider when looking for alternative treatments in lieu of surgery:

1. Consider removing amalgams. I know of at least one person who claims that her nocturnal clenching and grinding greatly diminished after having all amalgams removed. Even though the AMA says amalgams are not harmful. A growing number of dentists disagree with this pronouncement.I'd give this idea some research and thought.

2. Consider a mouth guard. These do not work for all people, and in some cases the mouth guards actually make the condition worse. Even a study from Wayne State University claimed that mouth guards only worked at preventing clenching and grinding for about three weeks, after which time the patient grew used to the device and simply began clenching and grinding on the mouth guard, sometimes worsening their condition.

3. Practice meditation or other stress release techniques.

4. Avoid sugary foods prior to bed.

5. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants, particularly in the hours before bed.

6. Adopt a soft diet and avoid hard, chewy, crunchy foods. There are several cookbooks out there to choose from.

7. Are you too warm at night? Room temperature and sleeping too warm might be a contributing factor to clenching and grinding.

8. Could your TMJD be caused by an allergy? There's mounting evidence that this may be possible. An allergy test might well be in order.

9. Have you recently had extensive dental work done where your mouth was hyper-extended for several hours? Your TMJD will probably resolve in a few months. Be patient and careful.

10. Is your condition a direct result of arthritis? There's growing evidence that arthritis may be the body's response to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and not an inevitable result of old age. Check it out.

11. Have you ever had whiplash? Again, this may likely be the cause of your TMJD problem. Sometimes just knowing the cause helps.

12. A new thought: are you being over exposed to electromagnetic waves? We all are in many respects, but this is an area that needs to be explored.

13. Have you tried a magnesium supplement? While there is no evidence of this treatment being helpful, magnesium supplements are incredibly helpful at stopping charley horses and other muscle cramps. Most Americans are very magnesium deficient, and tests for this condition are next to worthless. Magnesium is cheap too.

There are many reasons for this condition to develop; there are few cures. Be cautious before you commit to any procedure than is irreversible. Absolutely get second opinions, and also consult with a Homeopath and/or a naturopath. Irreversible procedures cannot be reversed, and sometimes patients are left worse off than they were before the procedure!

Treatment for TMJD Almost Always Requires a Softer Diet

TMJ Disorder is one of the most exasperating conditions that patients, doctors, and dentists are faced with. No one treatment works for everyone. Complicating the issue even more, TMJ Disorder has a host of symptoms. Ironically, there are people with TMJ Disorder who experience no pain whatsoever! Unfortunately, most cases of TMJ Disorder are quite painful.

Some cases are temporary and fleeting; others are permanent and devastating. There is no quick fix or single approach for the treatment of TMJD.

Most medical practitioners, however, advise their patients to eat a softer diet. For some, this seems impossible because they aren't familiar with many easy-to-chew recipes. Most people think of a softer diet as soup, oatmeal and the like. There are, however, a plethora of tasty, nourishing meals that one can eat if one is prescribed a "softer diet."

In addition, one may find that his/her diet becomes more healthful once most fast foods are eliminated.

Unfortunately, it seems there's an entire generation of younger folk who have an aversion to the kitchen. This generation is the "eat out" generation, but changing to an easy-to-chew diet will rapidly encourage one to prepare meals at home, thus saving untold amounts of money.

There are excellent recipes available on line, or one can choose from several cookbooks to find recipes tailored specifically for the TMJD patient. You Can Conquer TMJ:Ideas and Recipes is one such book that offers a plethora of easy-to-prepare, easy-to-chew, nutritious, tasty meals that the whole family will enjoy eating. These same recipes, plus a few others, are also available in One Pot Galley Gourmet, which retails for less. Both books are available on amazon.com and www.moonlightmesaassociates.com. One Pot Galley Gourmet, however, does not have the suggestions/recommendations for dealing with TMJD issues that the other book contains.

Statistically, most cases of TMJD will self-resolve given time and a softer diet. Unfortunately, there are other cases that will not resolve without irreversible procedures being done, for which there is no guarantee of success.

This is a condition that should not be taken lightly if one is in the early, nonpainful stages. Be forewarned and be pro-active with eating and chewing habits.

The Link Between Allergies and TMJ Disorder

Just how strong is the link between allergies and TMJ Disorder? There’s been surprisingly little study done on this subject, although there are those medical practitioners who feel that at least some cases of TMJ Disorder are caused by allergies.


Interestingly, Weston A Price inadvertently suggested a dietary connection to TMJD when he wrote his major opus, Physical and Nutritional Degeneration. In this work, he showed how quickly dental arches became deformed once native people’s diets changed from natural, wholesome foods indigenous to their group, to a diet laden with processed white flour and sugar. Within one generation, dental caries became rampant, as did deformed dental arches, something most Americans seem to have. Deformed dental arches could contribute significantly to the development of TMJD.

Taken a step further, it is easy to see that food allergies can also be a culprit that brings about dental disorders and, subsequently, trouble with the temporomandibular jaw joint (TMJ).

According to the Atlanta Dental Group, PC., when allergies cause the nose to swell so that one begins to breathe through one’s mouth, many things go wrong. “With children that are growing, mouth breathing from allergies can be disastrous. The jaws will not grow together and a bad bite develops.” Eventually the allergy sufferer’s tongue becomes misplaced and is lowered to help facilitate breathing. Over time, this abnormal tongue placement can cause swallowing difficulties and even speech problems.

Ultimately, according to the Atlanta Dental Group literature, “Untreated allergies can also be the original source of TMJ problems because these allergies disturb the normal functioning and growth of the teeth and jaw bones.”

Besides the most common source of allergies, such as dairy, gluten, etc. many do not stop to consider possible allergies to metals – specifically metals that may be found in amalgam fillings.

The connection between allergies and TMJD is not studied or considered much at all, yet the possibility of a connection is there. Perhaps, instead of treating TMJ Disorder, one should check for, and treat, allergies first.

A Reminder that Not All TMJD Sufferers Recover

I received an email today that, once again, brought me back to planet Earth. I do not mean to sound insensitive or perhaps smug in my attitude about TMJ Disorder. It's unacceptable that from time to time I seem to need reminders that just because I recovered, doesn't mean that everyone can recover...or recover very easily... or recover without undergoing irreversible procedures.

Indeed, how can the medical profession possibly profess that this condition can be cured, when no one is exactly sure why the condition arises? Even in my own situation, I may be painfree, but I am cautious about what I eat! That's not really being cured.

As I was reminded tonight...NOT ALL TMJD sufferers clench and/or grind their teeth. I know that in earlier blogs I made this clear, but still, I need to repeat it more often. Many clenchers/grinders DO NOT DEVELOP TMJD. Many who NEVER clench or grind DO develop TMJD.

I was also caught short by the person's description of her intense pain and how it has permeated every single moment of her life. The sufferer is a nurse - she knows healthy habits and practices them. Again, I must stand truly chastised if I sound demeaning or if anyone believes that I am diminishing their pain. That is completely wrong on my part and something I never intended, but I will certainly be careful that I never sound this way again. So, I do want to apologize to those who feel that I have in any way diminished the seriousness of their condition or their pain. This was NEVER my intention.


TMJD is an extremely debilitating, depressing condition. The fact that it mostly affects women only is undoubtedly one reason why it's not researched and studied more carefully. If men suffered from this condition as much as women, perhaps there'd be a cure,or at the very least a good explanation for why it occurs. It seems that the causes of TMJD are as multifareous as the people who suffer from it.

I have talked with people who will never, ever chew again because of this condition and the irreversible procedures that well meaning dentists/doctors did to them. Others are thankful for a surgery that allowed them to live a "normal" life when it comes to eating.

For the lucky ones, this condition is temporary and/or transient. For many, however, it is a debilitating, excruciatingly painful fact of life. Anybody who has had TMJD has suffered in ways that ONLY a TMJD patient can begin to understand.

My deepest, sincerest apologies to all whom I may have offended. Because this is the second time that someone has taken serious offense at my presentations, I will no longer blog unless I have something "documentable" or "newsworthy" to discuss. My opinion should not be part of this blog.

If you've had success in treating or overcoming this condition, please contact me with this information so I may share it with others who may greatly benefit from your experience.

For TMJD Sufferers, a Softer Diet Could Mean a Healthier Diet

For those suffering from TMJ Disorder, changing to a softer, easier-to-chew diet, could mean a switch to a healthier way of eating.

This won't be true, of course, if one indulges in a steady stream of milkshakes and margaritas!

Softer diets generally don't have as much meat in them as standard fare. Meat is not at all bad for a person, but the amount of meat that Americans eat tends to be excessive. Meat is not needed on a daily basis, for one thing. Despite the plea to "show me the meat," many types of meat, especially processed meats, are laden with chemicals, preservatives, and hormones.

When one cuts back on meat, there is a tendency to fill the plate with some form of pasta. Pasta also is not bad for one...in moderation. Instead of pasta, one should try to fill one's plate with vegetables. Cooked vegetables are almost always easy-to-chew. While many people prefer their vegetables raw, this is usually not possible for the TMJD sufferer. Buy vegetables in season, preferably organic, and you may see the pounds drop in addition to the jaw improve.

Because of the economic downturn, many people tend to cut back on fresh produce because, in all honesty, it's expensive. However, buying vegetables in season will help with this cost; in addition, try growing some in patio containers or in a backyard garden. It's amazing how much better something seems to taste when one has raised it oneself!

Don't like vegetables? There's surely one you like...just eat it.

If, however, fresh vegetables are just not affordable, a good substitute is beans. Beans are cheap, versatile and...EASY-TO-CHEW. Besides being filled with protein, they're also a great source of fiber.

The key in all of this is to try to approach a softer diet with a positive mindset. Think of the benefits you'll derive from this way of eating, and don't focus on what you think you're missing out on.

You Can Conquer TMJ: Ideas and Recipes (Moonlight Mesa Associates) is a good resource for anyone looking for healthful, easy-to-cook, easy-to-chew, mostly one pot/pan meals. It's available at amazon.com.