What causes difficulty opening the mouth while eating?
Disease description:
My mouth has been a bit painful these past couple of days, and I can't open it wide enough to eat. What could be the reason for difficulty opening the mouth while eating?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Difficulty opening the mouth while eating may be caused by wisdom teeth eruption in the oral cavity. If the wisdom teeth are not properly cleaned during brushing, inflammation of the surrounding gums can occur, leading to redness and swelling. This inflammation may affect the muscles responsible for opening the mouth and the masticatory muscles, resulting in limited jaw movement. Additionally, trauma causing temporomandibular joint stiffness or pathological changes commonly leads to difficulty in opening the mouth during meals.
