Hurts to Open Mouth Wide

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?

Find Similar Symptoms