We have all been taught the importance of chewing our food properly. Making sure that each bite is thoroughly broken down to allow for easy swallowing and digestion is something that we all know is necessary. Some folks even take it to the next level by counting and chewing each bite the same number of times before moving on to the next one. But sometimes we can actually do harm when we chew improperly, even to the point of bringing about various issues and pain in our jaws. Here are a couple of common examples:
Excessive Chewing
The “21 and done” rule might be acceptable in some cases, but not all foods need to be chewed the exact same amount of times. For instance, if you were having a streak dinner it would not be necessary to chew your potato as many times as you chew your T-Bone. Over-chewing soft foods can lead to continual upper and lower tooth impact, which can, in turn, create jaw discomfort and pain.
Chewing Too Hard/Grinding
Another common cause of jaw problems relating to chewing is when you bite down too hard and actually end up grinding your teeth together as you chew. People who have issues grinding when they sleep know all too well how damaging this can be to their jaws and doing it when you are awake, and eating can have the same effects.
To see if your jaw problems may be the result of improper chewing techniques, don't hesitate any longer to give us a call (or stop by our office) and set up a time for one of our dental professionals to check out the problem up close. If your jaw issues are due to your chewing methods, ignoring the problem will only make it worse and more painful.
Young Jun DDS MD FACS, 601 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. #9, Placentia, CA 92870 • (657) 216-1617 • placentiaoralsurgery.com • 11/28/2024 • Key Phrases: dental implants Placentia CA •