Nutrition for a jaw fracture: permitted and prohibited foods

A jaw fracture is one of the most common injuries. It occurs in 35% of all fractures. Most often the lower jaw is damaged. This is accompanied by a violation of chewing and swallowing functions. In this article we will talk about what nutrition should be like in case of a jaw fracture.

Proper nutrition promotes rapid recovery

First aid

An obligatory step is to apply a sling-shaped bandage to the jaw.

A broken jaw causes serious harm to health. Pre-medical intervention should be immediate.

First aid for a broken jaw is as follows:

1. Stop bleeding. A tampon made from a clean napkin should be pressed onto the wound. If blood continues to flow, an ice compress should be applied to the fracture site.
2. Anesthesia. It is allowed to inject the patient with 500 mg of Analgin, 750 mg of Naproxen, or 1-2 ml of Revalgin.
3. Immobilization of the jaw. To do this, you can use a ruler or a plate. You can secure a homemade splint using a sling bandage.

Note! If necessary, the patient is given cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After providing first aid, you need to call an ambulance or transport the victim yourself to the hospital. Further treatment is carried out in a hospital.

What does a doctor do

Therapeutic tactics depend on the degree of injury

Therapy consists of the following:

• combination of jaw bone fragments;
• fixation of debris using a special tire;
• creating optimal conditions at the site of injury for bone restoration;
• carrying out restorative, antimicrobial and preventive treatment.

If necessary, the doctor performs surgery. If the destruction of the jaw bone leads to facial injury, complex plastic surgery is performed. During the operation, jaw and facial prostheses are used.

Stages of recovery after a fracture

In order not to aggravate the situation and cause even more harm to the body, it is necessary to treat a fracture at home in accordance with a clear sequential scheme. It provides the following main recovery stages:

1. The first stage begins immediately after the plaster is removed. At this time, the damaged area needs to be rubbed and massaged. Start exercises and massage almost immediately, but they should be light and not overload the still weak muscles. To stimulate recovery processes, local preparations in the form of a gel or cream can be applied to the area, but only as prescribed by a doctor.
2. The second stage begins when the muscles, ligaments and other structures become a little stronger. To increase tone and motor activity, begin exercise therapy, physiotherapy, and perform more complex and intense exercises.
3. The third stage is the final one. During this period, you can already increase your activity and go for long walks. The doctor can give a referral for treatment at a sanatorium or health center.

Nutritional Features

A mandibular fracture can be double or triple. A person who has received such an injury is unable to eat solid food. Violation of chewing function leads to inhibition of reparative processes of bone tissue.

The main task of medical personnel is to organize adequate nutrition. The main feeding methods are presented in the table.

Table 1. Types of feeding:

Note! Food is supplied using a tube for 1.5-2 weeks. After this, the patient is transferred to physiological oral feeding.

Working with gait

As part of rehabilitation after a leg injury, it is necessary to work on restoring gait. One of the most effective options is exercise on an exercise bike, to which the patient must be allowed by a doctor if there are no contraindications.

In addition to training on the simulator, it is also important to perform special exercises:

• grab a small object with your toes and hold it suspended;
• roll the ball with the foot of the injured limb;
• roll from toes to heels and back;
• walk backwards, sideways.

Classes should be continued until the patient’s motor functions are completely restored and swelling and pain go away.

Features of the second table

It is prescribed when the patient can open his mouth freely. Food should be served liquid, well-cooked, thoroughly pureed or passed through a blender. Number of meals - 5-6 times/24 hours.

A brief description of the second table is as follows:

• the consistency of the dishes is sour cream;
• calorie content - depends on the possibility of combining other diets;
• The period is transitional to the common table.

Principles of nutrition

What to eat if you have a broken jaw? The tablet provides information about what the patient’s menu should include.

Table 2. Basic principles of nutrition:

Note! In order to increase nutritional value, it is recommended to dilute pureed food with broth or milk.

Food for the period of splinting

The table tells you what you can eat if you have a fractured jaw during the period of splinting.

Table 3. Menu for the splinting period:

Drinking whole milk is not recommended. This is due to the viscosity of the product, which quickly coagulates and contributes to the “stickiness” of saliva. It is better to add milk to tea or coffee. The grains of pureed solid food should resemble semolina.

Recovery period

The duration of the rehabilitation period for a fracture of the lower jaw is 30-60 days.

The patient's menu should include foods enriched with:

• calcium;
• zinc;
• phosphorus;
• vitamins.

Every day the patient should eat at least 150 grams of meat. You need to first boil it, then grind it in a blender, then dilute it with bone broth. This paste contains useful microelements that help accelerate the healing of deformities.

What to give up

The label lists foods that should be avoided during treatment.

Table 4. Prohibited products:

Foods to Eat and Avoid

It is necessary to correctly create a menu that includes products containing the largest number of necessary elements.

You need to enter the following products into the menu:

• sea ​​fish;
• milk, fermented milk products;
• cheeses;
• nuts;
• dried fruits;
• cabbage;
• seeds;
• legumes;
• liver;
• seafood;
• caviar.

Their use helps restore the body after a fracture, they strengthen the body as a whole.

There are foods that you should avoid during your recovery. You need to understand why you should not use this or that product.

Use of enteral formulas

The products contain amino acids and vitamins necessary for the patient.

For a fracture of the lower jaw, it is recommended to eat the following enteral mixtures:

• Nutrilon;
• Nutrizon;
• Nutridrink.

The mixtures are available in dry and liquid form. Dry products must be diluted in boiled water.

Note! Enteric mixtures have a beneficial effect on the process of bone fusion. The beneficial elements contained in this diet are well absorbed by the body.

Nutrilon mixtures

When producing enteric mixtures, the manufacturing company uses the innovative Immunofortis system. The products are produced in jars of 400 and 900 grams. The best enteric mixtures for people with a jaw fracture are presented in the table.

Table 5. The best Nutrilon mixtures:

Nutrizon mixtures

A nutritional mixture with a high protein concentration and a balanced composition.

A brief description of this food looks like this:

• calorie content - 100 kcal/100 grams;
• proteins - 4 grams;
• fats - 3.9 grams;
• carbohydrates - 12.3 grams.

The best Nutrizon mixtures are presented in the table.

Table 6. Recommended Nutrizon mixtures:

Nutridrink mixtures

The table shows the main flavors of Nutridrink products.

Table 7. Nutridrink mixtures:

External means

After the cast is removed, the patient may experience pain and swelling for a long time. To get rid of these unpleasant manifestations of injury, the doctor may prescribe ointments and gels that relieve discomfort. Such drugs have important effects:

• analgesic – relieves pain, improves motor abilities;
• anti-inflammatory – improves tissue condition, relieves inflammation, redness, swelling;
• muscle relaxant – promotes muscle relaxation, relieves excessive tone, improves the effect of painkillers;
• regenerating – stimulates restoration processes, activates metabolism in damaged tissues.

External medications have much less negative effects than oral medications. Therefore, many doctors prefer ointments and gels with local action.

Recommended vitamins

When a jaw fracture occurs, the patient needs the following vitamins:

• Group B;
• C;
• D;
• K.

The human body also needs magnesium, calcium, zinc and phosphorus. Vitamins for jaw fractures can be obtained not only from food. Additionally, taking tablet medications is allowed. The tablets also need to be crushed thoroughly.

Vitamins B1

This vitamin is also called thiamine. It does not accumulate in the body. It must be received daily.

The daily requirement for vitamin B1 looks like this:

• adult men - 1.5-2.4 mg;
• women - 1.4-2.3 mg;
• children - 0.6-1.8 mg.

Thiamine-rich foods are presented in the table.

Table 8. Products with vitamin B1:

Vitamin B6

Found in products of animal and plant origin. With a mixed diet, the need for this vitamin is fully satisfied. B6 is well synthesized by intestinal microflora, its excess is excreted during urination.

Note! With a lack of magnesium, the vitamin is absorbed much worse.

The table shows foods rich in B6.

Table 9. Products with B6:

Vitamin B12

This is an anti-anemic vitamin. The daily requirement is 3 mcg. The upper acceptable level is unknown. Recommended products are listed on the label.

Table 10. Products with B12:

Vitamin C

Another name for this vitamin is ascorbic acid. The daily requirement for an adult varies from 70 to 100 mg. Foods rich in vitamin C are presented in the table.

Table 11. Products with vitamin C:

Vitamin D

This element is necessary to normalize the process of bone formation and growth. The vitamin regulates calcium-phosphorus metabolism.

The daily requirement for this vitamin looks like this:

• adults - 10 mcg;
• children - 10-15 mcg;
• persons who have crossed the 60-year-old threshold - 15 mcg.

Vitamin D is found in eggs, sour cream, butter, chicken liver and sea bass.

Vitamin K

Takes part in the formation of bone tissue and maintains the functioning of blood vessels. The daily requirement is 0.2-0.3 mg. Foods rich in vitamin K are presented in the table.

Table 12. Vitamin K foods:

Products with magnesium

This element is one of the most common in nature. Magnesium is an integral component of bones and tooth enamel. The daily requirement is 400-500 mg. Products rich in magnesium are presented in the table.

Table 13. Products with magnesium:

Note! In the patient's body, the ratio of calcium and magnesium should be no more than 1:06.

Products with calcium

Up to 98% of calcium is found in bone tissue, tooth enamel and dentin. The daily requirement is 800-1000 mg. Elderly patients need to increase the daily dosage to 1200 mg. Calcium-rich foods are presented in the table.

Table 14. Products with calcium:

Sample menu for the week

The patient should receive a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals within a week. The sign shows a sample menu. It can be varied according to your own taste.

Table 15. Sample weekly menu:

Main courses and jellied meat for bones

Doctors recommend introducing jellied meat into the diet for a broken leg, which contains all the elements necessary for recovery.
To cook the dish, take beef bones, process them well, and simmer over low heat for several hours. Once ready, pour the broth into containers and place in a cool place. It is recommended to eat fresh vegetables daily. It is advisable to add vegetable oil to them. Sour cream or natural yogurt with a low fat content is suitable as a dressing.

Different types of cheese should be included in dishes. To prepare healthy dishes, it is recommended to take fish, liver, cabbage, and legumes. When choosing bread, you should choose coarse whole grain bread; it is better if it contains sunflower seeds.

Using a variety of fruits and berries in salads and sauces makes it possible to get the necessary vitamins and elements.

Oral hygiene

Antiseptics are used to rinse the mouth

When a patient is hospitalized, hygiene procedures are carried out by a doctor.

The instructions look like this:

1. Rinsing the mouth. Antiseptic solutions are used for this.
2. Cleaning food debris from tires and teeth. The procedure is performed with anatomical tweezers.
3. Repeated rinsing of the vestibule of the mouth.
4. Tire flushing. To do this, use a brush on which antibacterial soap is applied.

At home, the patient must continue to rinse the mouth with antiseptics. It is advisable to use solutions of Furacilin and Chlorhexidine.

Massage

Therapeutic massage after fractures involves the use of specific techniques:

• rubbing – active movements improve blood circulation and reduce pain;
• kneading – restore muscle tone, improve tendon mobility;
• stroking – light stroking movements relax muscles, improve microcirculation;
• effleurage - improves blood flow and increases muscle contractility.

The massage therapist selects a treatment course taking into account the characteristics of the injury and the exact location of the fracture. A course of therapeutic massage helps to avoid muscle atrophy and weakness, improve mobility, relieve swelling and pain.