rismus, also known as “locked jaw,” is a painful condition in which the opening of the mouth is limited. This can cause significant discomfort and difficulties with eating, speaking, and maintaining proper oral hygiene. At SDS Dental Clinic in Vilafranca del Penedès, we are committed to informing you about the causes, symptoms, and available treatment options to effectively manage this dental trismus condition.
What is dental trismus?
The main symptom of trismus is difficulty fully opening the jaw, often accompanied by pain, muscle cramps, difficulties chewing, brushing teeth, swallowing certain foods, headaches, and earaches.
Causes and Symptoms of Dental Trismus
Among the causes of trismus are:
Trauma: Jaw injuries can lead to trismus, including fractures or other injuries following dental procedures. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may also be affected, and bruising or injuries to the chewing muscles can occur.
Inflammation: Certain medical conditions can cause inflammation in the oral cavity, leading to trismus. For example, pericoronitis, an inflammation of the soft tissues around a tooth, often occurs in wisdom teeth.
Mandibular Arthritis: Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue, can cause excessive formation of fibrous tissue, contributing to the development of trismus.
Dental Surgery: Oral surgical procedures, such as wisdom tooth extraction, can cause inflammation that leads to trismus. Overextension of the chewing muscles due to excessive mouth opening during prolonged dental procedures can also contribute to this postoperative condition.
Infection: Certain infections, such as mumps, tonsillitis, or peritonsillar abscesses, can cause trismus.
Cancer and Its Treatments: Tumors located in the head or neck can affect jaw movement, and radiotherapy treatments for these tumors can lead to the development of trismus.
Treatments for Dental Trismus
Medication: The dentist may prescribe medications to reduce pain and relax the jaw muscles. The most common ones include muscle relaxants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can help relieve trismus through specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the chewing muscles, manual massage therapy, and manipulation of the temporomandibular joint. Techniques such as dry needling and myofascial therapy can improve jaw mobility.
Dietary Adjustments: A soft diet is recommended until symptoms improve. Avoiding hard, crunchy, or sticky foods is important to reduce chewing effort.
How to Treat Dental Trismus at Home
Applying warm compresses to the affected area for 15–20 minutes can help relax the jaw muscles.
Gentle jaw stretching exercises, such as slowly opening and closing the mouth, can help restore mobility.
Gently massaging the jaw muscles.
Using relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help reduce muscle tension.
Trismus can cause various complications that may affect quality of life:
Oral Hygiene Problems: Difficulty opening the mouth can make it hard to maintain proper oral hygiene, which may lead to bad breath and cavities. In people with dental prosthetics, this can also make their use and cleaning more difficult.
Eating Difficulties: Patients may need to follow a predominantly liquid and soft diet to avoid discomfort.
Infections: Trismus can complicate the management of infections, such as cellulitis, a skin inflammation that may present symptoms like swelling, redness, and pain.
At SDS Dental Clinic, we are committed to providing the best solutions for your oral health. Contact us for a consultation and to learn more about how we can treat trismus and other dental conditions.
References:
