What is a Locked Jaw?
Locked jaw, also known as trismus, occurs when the jaw muscles tighten painfully and restrict the ability of the neck to move - the finale of a chain reaction is a lock, yes, this is exactly what the mouth looks like during an acute spasm.
A locked jaw makes it difficult for a person to open their mouth fully. Locked jaw occurs suddenly and symptoms peak within a few hours.
In addition to jaw locking, the patient may experience other symptoms, including:
- Headache;
- Jaw pain;
- Jaw swelling;
- Neck pain;
- Ear pain;
- Muscle spasms.
With a strong spasm of the chewing muscles, a person cannot speak, is unable to communicate verbally with others. Unfortunately, the swallowing process is also disrupted.
After a day of jaw locking, oral health is also damaged, because the patient is unable to brush his teeth, that is, maintain the necessary hygiene, and is also unable to swallow saliva normally. Dry mouth and the development of an inflammatory process, the formation of ulcers in the oral cavity are expected.
Causes of locked jaws include:
- Tetanus;
- Trauma;
- Periodontal infection;
- A side effect of certain medications;
- Temporomandibular joint disorders.
Source:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-lockjaw-4082980
