Hurts to Open Mouth Wide
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Can't move my jaws because it hurts
Pain when opening my mouth
Difficult to open mouth because of pain
It's too painful to open my mouth
About the Symptom
Trismus, commonly referred to as lockjaw, is a painful condition characterized by limited jaw opening. It can lead to challenges in eating, speaking, and maintaining oral hygiene, while also causing discomfort.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Headache
- Fever
Possible Causes
Generally, Hurts to open mouth wide can be related to:
- Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis (TMJ)
This degenerative condition affects the jaw (temporomandibular) joint, causing changes and degeneration of bone structure, leading to joint inflammation and pain. The condition is more common in females than males. Risk factors include grinding or clenching teeth, dislocations or fractures, and genetics.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Hurts to open mouth wide may be related to these serious diseases:
- Mumps
A highly contagious infection caused by the mumps virus. Swelling of the salivary glands on the face usually starts within a few days of catching the virus. There may be pain or tenderness around the swelling as well.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Is it hard to open your mouth because of pain?
- When did you first notice difficulty opening the mouth?
- Are you having difficulty opening your mouth?
- Have you had trouble opening your mouth before?
- How has difficulty opening the mouth changed since it started?
Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
How long after wisdom teeth removal can i eat a burger?
A.
Most people can try a burger about 2 weeks after surgery if recovery is uncomplicated, waiting 3 to 4 weeks after tougher extractions, and only once soft solids are painless with no swelling or bleeding. There are several factors to consider. See below for step-by-step ways to ease in, what to avoid, warning signs you are not ready, and when to contact your dentist, which can affect your timing and next steps.
References:
Birn H. (1986). Recovery after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars… time spent on daily activities. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 3456201.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3456201/
Ghaeminia H, Meijer GJ, Soehardi A, Vissink A, & Raghoebar GM. (2008). Predictability of postoperative recovery after mandibular third molar… surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 18155458.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18155458/
D’Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, & Pagliaro L. (2006). Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis… a systematic review of 118 studies. Journal of Hepatology, 16310454.
Q.
How long does wisdom teeth removal take?
A.
Most procedures take 30 to 90 minutes in total, with the extraction itself often 20 to 60 minutes; simple erupted teeth can be as quick as 1 to 5 minutes per tooth while complex or impacted teeth may take up to 30 minutes per tooth. There are several factors to consider, including anesthesia setup, surgeon experience, and pre and post op time, so see below for the full timeline, recovery expectations, and guidance on planning your next steps.
References:
Bakker NA, van der Bilt A, Witter DJ, van Dijk E, Truin GJ. (2005). Relationship between surgical duration and postoperative pain and trismus following removal of mandibular third molars… Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 15949935.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15949935/
Bui CH, Seldin EB, Dodson TB. (2003). Types, frequencies, and risk factors for complications after third molar extraction… J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 14628311.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14628311/
Ziol M, Handra‐Luca A, Kettaneh A, Christidis C, Mal F, Kazemi F, de Ledinghen V, Marcellin P, Douvin C, Couzigou P, Beaugrand M. (2005). Non‐invasive assessment of liver fibrosis by measurement of stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis C… Hepatology, 15618963.
Q.
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal?
A.
Start with cool liquids for the first 24 hours, move to purees and very soft foods on days 2 to 3, then soft solids like mashed potatoes, eggs, oatmeal, and very tender shredded meats on days 4 to 7, and slowly return to regular foods after a week while avoiding straws, hot, hard, crunchy, sticky, or seedy foods. There are several factors to consider, including staying well hydrated, prioritizing protein and healthy fats, keeping foods cool, and recognizing warning signs like worsening pain, fever, pus, or persistent numbness that mean you should contact your surgeon. See the complete guidance below for specific food lists, timing, what to avoid, and when to seek care.
References:
Al-Moraissi EA, & Ellis E. (2017). Complications of third molar removal: a systematic review of postoperative outcomes and care… J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 28986699.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28986699/
Schuppan D, & Afdhal NH. (2008). Liver cirrhosis… Lancet, 18280373.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18280373/
Kamath PS, & Wiesner RH. (2001). A model to predict survival in patients with end‐stage liver disease… Hepatology, 11157951.
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