Trismus:Unable to Open Mouth Fully. Causes:
Dr.K.O.Paulose FRCS DLO, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Jubilee Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
Trismus makes it difficult to open the mouth and interferes with many daily activities like eating, talking, brushing the teeth even breathing.
The most common cause of trismus is inflammation of the soft tissue of the mouth due to an impacted molar, removal of the wisdom teeth, removal of the tonsil
Less common causes of trismus are: tetanus (“lockjaw”), an acute infection from bacteria that usually enter the body through a wound, and radiation therapy to the face and neck
Symptoms of trismus include increased jaw pain, inability to open the jaw, difficulty chewing and difficulty in talking
Treatment depends upon the cause
