How to learn to eat more normally after total jaw joint replacements

[Murphy514]

I had both jaw joints replaced this past October and have had PT to help me open my mouth.  My therapist does not want to continue because I cannot move my jaws sideways.  My pain is better, always in the background but most of the time I can block it except for after meals.
So...my question is this:  how do I learn to eat anything that is not soft?  My surgeon still has me on a soft diet and was depending on the therapist to teach me to eat.  I am hoping I can do things at home to learn to eat meat, salads, etc.  Do you have any advice?

[tiredaz]

I had both joints replaced too, but not at the same time.  It took a long time to be able to eat solid foods again.  I still don't have side-to-side movement but I have learned to chew most anything.  It's been 20 yrs since the first replacement and 10 since the second.  So bad!  After the last, my teeth didn't meet (nearly 1/2 inch off) so I had to wear braces for a year to pull the teeth together.  Then I had treatment by a tmj specialist for another year to realign my jaws.  He was a genius.  I still have some pain and have to eat very slowly and bite my tongue sometimes, but I can eat what I want.

I don't have much to offer in the way of a quick fix, but I encourage you to be patient and look for tmj specialists.  I found my doctor through my dentist.  Here's hoping you make progress and can put it all behind you.  I can tell you tho that I still can't tolerate thin soups.  Eating that way is the pits!  Good luck, Linda

[Gellia]

Hi,
Be sure to ask your PT and/or doctor, but perhaps chewing gum would help.  It can strengthen muscles by repetitive chewing.

ASK FIRST, though.  There may be a very good reason why this would not work for you and you don't want to create another problem for yourself.

GOOD LUCK.
Please let us know how you are doing.

My very best to you,
Gellia