Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Trismus

Although trismus can be painful, the symptoms are usually temporary and respond well to both medication and physiotherapy. What can we do against trismus, and how can the uncomfortable symptoms be treated?

What Causes Trismus?

Trismus, also known as lockjaw, is a painful condition in which the muscles of the jaw contract spasmodically, preventing the mouth from fully opening, which can lead to several problems. These include difficulties in eating and swallowing, dental hygiene problems, and issues with speech production.

Symptoms of Trismus

Jaw closure is usually felt equally on both sides of the face. Symptoms appear suddenly and peak within a few hours.

The defining symptom of trismus is that the patient can only open their mouth about 10 mm, but other symptoms can include:

Headache
Jaw pain
Ear pain

In cases of trismus, speech may be difficult to understand, and swallowing difficulties can also occur because the patient is unable to control their mouth movements.

Causes of Trismus

Trismus occurs when the jaw muscles remain in an active state and are unable to relax. The spasm can be caused by injury to the muscle, nerve, bone, tendon, or ligament, but it can also arise due to health issues, infections, and medications.

A swollen, impacted wisdom tooth can also cause trismus, but several other problems can be at the root, including:

Dental Procedures

While trismus can develop after any oral surgery, it often appears following the removal of wisdom teeth, especially the lower ones. Trismus may occur due to inflammation caused by the surgery or overextension of the jaw, or damage to surrounding tissues caused by anesthesia injections.

Trauma

Injury or damage to the jaw can also lead to trismus. Such trauma might include fractures of the jawbone, bruising of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or injuries to the chewing muscles.

Oral Infections

Infections around the jaw muscles or in the mouth, such as a peritonsillar abscess, can affect jaw movement, leading to trismus.

Radiation Therapy for Throat Cancer

Tumors that disrupt the operation of the jaw can lead to trismus, but symptoms can also occur from radiation treatment of cancers affecting the jaw.

Trismus Exercises

There are several exercises that can help relieve trismus by stretching the jaw. These exercises can be repeated several times throughout the day.

Ensure you massage the jaw muscles in circular motions for 30-40 seconds to relax them before trying trismus exercises.

Open your mouth as wide as possible, hold for 10 seconds, then close. Repeat 5 times.
Open your mouth as wide as possible, then move your jaw to the right, then close. Repeat 5 times, and then do the same by moving your jaw to the left.
Stretch your neck by moving your head forward and backward, then left and right. Tilt your head to one side, pressing your ear toward your shoulder, hold for 20-30 seconds, then do the other side. Repeat 5 times for each side.

It's best to perform jaw joint physiotherapy with the help of a professional.

Treating Trismus

Typically, treating the underlying condition resolves the issues, so it's advisable to visit a dentist early if a dental problem is suspected.

Treatment options include:

Medication may be necessary to reduce pain and relax the jaw muscles.
If an impacted wisdom tooth is causing the symptoms, it may need to be surgically removed.
Physiotherapy usually involves massaging and stretching the jaw muscles to loosen them and reduce pain.
To alleviate pain, it is recommended to consume soft foods and avoid hard, crunchy foods until symptoms improve.

In addition to medical interventions, home remedies can also be tried. For example, placing a warm, wet towel on the jaw for 15 minutes can relax the muscles and promote blood flow.

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