What causes mouth pain when opening the mouth?
Disease description:
My younger aunt has mouth pain and cannot open her mouth to eat. What could be causing this oral pain that worsens when opening the mouth?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Oral pain upon opening the mouth is often caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Conservative local treatments such as heat therapy can be helpful—for example, using a physical therapy device, warm towel, or hot water bottle. It is advisable to visit a professional dental clinic for an examination to determine if there are contributing factors such as teeth grinding, unilateral chewing, abnormal tooth contact points, or malocclusion. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications may also be taken to relieve symptoms, and most cases recover well with appropriate treatment.
