Have you ever found it difficult or painful to fully open your mouth? This condition is called trismus, sometimes referred to as “lockjaw.” It can make everyday activities like eating, speaking, brushing your teeth, and even visiting the dentist uncomfortable.
The good news is that trismus is usually treatable once the underlying cause is identified.
What is Trismus?
Trismus is a reduced ability to open the mouth due to pain, muscle spasm, or problems affecting the jaw joint or surrounding tissues. It can develop suddenly or gradually and may affect one or both sides of the jaw.
What Causes Trismus?
There are many possible causes, including:
- Jaw muscle strain or spasm.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
- Wisdom tooth infections or other dental infections.
- Trauma to the face or jaw.
- Following dental treatment, particularly difficult wisdom tooth removal.
- Head and neck radiation therapy.
- Certain medical conditions or, more rarely, tumours affecting the jaw muscles or joints.
Finding the cause is important because treatment depends on the reason the trismus has developed.
What Are the Symptoms?
People with trismus may experience:
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully.
- Pain when opening or chewing.
- Jaw stiffness.
- Difficulty eating or speaking.
- Tenderness in the jaw muscles.
- Sometimes swelling or facial pain if an infection is present.
If trismus is caused by a dental infection, it may also be accompanied by toothache, swelling, or fever.
How Is Trismus Treated?
Treatment focuses on the underlying cause.
Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist or doctor may recommend:
- Treating any dental infection.
- Anti-inflammatory medication or pain relief.
- Gentle jaw stretching exercises.
- Warm compresses to relax the jaw muscles.
- A soft diet while the jaw heals.
- Physiotherapy in some cases.
If trismus is related to cancer treatment or a jaw joint disorder, a more specialised treatment plan may be needed.
When Should You Seek Help?
You should arrange an assessment if you:
- Cannot open your mouth normally.
- Have jaw pain that isn’t improving.
- Develop swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing.
- Experience trismus after dental treatment that continues to worsen rather than improve.
Early treatment often leads to a faster recovery and can prevent long-term jaw stiffness.
The Bottom Line
Trismus can be uncomfortable and sometimes alarming, but it’s often a sign of an underlying problem that can be treated. Whether it’s caused by a dental infection, jaw disorder, or muscle strain, getting the right diagnosis is the first step towards recovery.
At Dural Dental Practice, we assess the health of your teeth, jaw joints, and surrounding muscles to identify the cause of jaw pain or limited mouth opening. If you’re having difficulty opening your mouth or experiencing ongoing jaw discomfort, our friendly team is here to help you get back to comfortable eating, speaking, and smiling.
