While anyone can develop trismus, some factors may increaseTrusted Source the chance of developing it.
These include:
• having head or neck cancer
• undergoing radiation treatment for head or neck cancer
• recent oral surgery to remove a wisdom tooth
• recent trauma to the mouth or jaw
• having certain types of mouth infection
Symptoms:
• jaw pain and cramping
• difficulty biting, chewing, or brushing the teeth
• inability to swallow some foods
• headaches
• earache
Treatment:
Typically, treating the underlying condition should resolve many cases of trismus. Generally, the earlier a person seeks treatment, the better the outcome.
Medication:
It may be necessary to take medication to reduceTrusted Source pain and relax the jaw muscles. Common medications for trismus include muscle relaxers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain.
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a doctor may prescribe oral medications or drugs that require injection into the jaw.
Some forms of NSAIDs are also available over the counter.
Jaw-stretching devices:
A doctor or physical therapist may recommend the use of a jaw-stretching device.
In a 2014 study, people who used such a device when performing specific mouth exercises had an average increase in mouth opening of 5.5–7.2 mmTrusted Source.
Dietary changes:
Individuals may need to make dietary changes until the condition improves.
• soup
• smoothies
• yogurt
• mashed potatoes
• oatmeal
• beans
• steamed vegetables
• stewed fruits
• cheese
• fish
• scrambled eggs
Courtesy: Mayo Clinic
