Is TMJ Issues a Problem of Same Side Chewing?

Subjects with TMJ were asked to chew almonds to see how a splint worked – 16/20 chewed on affected side leading author to dub it the “Habitual Chewing Side Syndrome”

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 8;8(4):e59980. Print 2013.
Temporomandibular Disorders: The Habitual Chewing Side Syndrome.
Santana-Mora U, López-Cedrún J, Mora MJ, Otero XL, Santana-Penín U.  abstract here

  • 16/20 subjects with unilateral symptoms ate almonds on affected side (p = 0.002)
  • “The results of this study support the use of a new term based on etiology, “habitual chewing side syndrome”, instead of the nonspecific symptom-based “temporomandibular joint disorders”; this denomination is characterized in adults by a steeper condylar path, flatter lateral anterior guidance, and habitual chewing on the symptomatic side.”

Comment – may keep almonds in my office and see….

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One Response to Is TMJ Issues a Problem of Same Side Chewing?

  1. Jennifer says:

    I am fascinated by the idea of almond chewing to relieve TMJ. I am wondering what the exact results were in regards to improving the condition. I have suffered with TMJ for many years but I don’t have the monetary resources for therapy. My jaw locks and it can be extremely inconvenient. I plan on buying a bag of almonds the next time I visit the grocery store. Thanks for the tip.
    —————
    I think the point was that almonds would be hard for someone to chew if they had TMJ. If they preferentially chewed them on the side of pain, then side preferential chewing might be the whole problem…
    -admin

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