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.
Trismus caused by inflammation resolves by itself in due course, without need of any intervention. Whereas, when there is infection, trismus persists for a prolonged duration and it may even aggravate. This can be controlled by prescribing antibiotics.
For this reason, skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed in the treatment of acute temporomandibular disorders (jaw locking, trismus, masticatory, and cervical myofascial pain).
Generally, trismus is gradually alleviated or disappears within approximately 1 to 2 weeks post-operatively; however, in very rare cases, trismus persists for >1 month. The present study reports the case of a patient who exhibited trismus for 45 days following mandibular third molar extraction.
The most common causes are TMD, reaction to head and neck cancer treatment or after wisdom teeth removal. Other causes include: Inflammatory conditions: You may develop trismus if you have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and scleroderma. These conditions affect your temporomandibular joint and may cause trismus.
Most cases of trismus resolve following symptom-directed treatment with heat therapy and NSAIDs. Refractory chronic trismus may require physiotherapeutic interventions.
Commonly known muscle relaxants include Soma, Skelaxin, Zanaflex, and Robaxin. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) blocks nerve impulses (or pain sensations) sent to the brain. Diazepam (Valium) has also been shown to relieve TMJ-related pain.
If you feel like you might have Trismus or lockjaw, it is important that you visit an ENT hospital. They might refer you to a dental surgeon and an orthopedician, based on the severity of the condition.
Severe trismus makes it difficult or impossible to insert dentures. It may make physical re-examination difficult, if limited mouth opening precludes adequate visualization of the site. Oral hygiene is compromised, chewing and swallowing is more difficult, and there is an increased risk of aspiration.
Common causes
Pericoronitis (inflammation of soft tissue around impacted third molar) is the most common cause of trismus. Inflammation of muscles of mastication. It is a frequent sequel to surgical removal of mandibular third molars (lower wisdom teeth).
Whatever the cause, treating jaw stiffness – first with ice packs, then heat, then physical stretching – you can correct the trismus sooner and return more quickly to pain-free laughing and living.
Sugar free chewing gum may be helpful to keep your jaw moving.
Trismus can be caused by damage to the muscles and/or nerve responsible for opening and closing the mouth and for chewing.
An example of a muscle relaxant used for TMJ disorders is diazepam (eg, Valium). Tricyclic antidepressants can help relieve pain caused by a TMJ disorder.
Cutting out habits that promote jaw tension, such as chewing gum, can also help you relax your jaw. Magnesium supplements can help relax the small, fast twitch muscles in your jaw and reduce grinding further.
Muscle relaxers
Typically, a doctor or dental specialist can prescribe a muscle relaxer to the patient in order for them to relax their jaw.
Trismus can reduce the ability to eat and speak. Patients with trismus may have difficulty performing and receiving dental care. There are a variety of massages and exercises you can perform to prevent trismus.
The defining symptom of trismus is the jaw not opening fully or opening to 35 mm or less. Other symptoms include: jaw pain and cramping. difficulty biting, chewing, or brushing the teeth.
Infections causing Trismus could be odontogenic or non odontogenic in nature. Odontogenic infections include pulpal infections, periodontal infections and pericoronal infections. While examples of non-odontogenic infection include tonsillitis, tetanus, meningitis, parotid abscess and brain abscess.
A usual mouth opening for an adult is about 40 to 50 millimetres. This is about the height of 3 fingers stacked on top of each other and placed between your top and bottom front teeth. You have trismus if you are not able to do this easily.
Symptoms include the reduced range of motion you experienced, pain or cramping in the jaw that occurs with or without movement, and pain or difficulty when exerting pressure, as when eating. Whether or not your jaw problem is due to TMD or trismus, we urge you to see your doctor or a TMD specialist for diagnosis.