Can lockjaw treatment exercises help my son's jaw?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have a 15-year-old son who has had a jaw problem for the past two weeks. The left side of his jaw sometimes gets stuck when he yawns or while chewing food. I wonder if it happens when opening the mouth a lot or less because sometimes he opens the mouth a lot, and there is no problem, and other times the left jaw gets stuck. It started two weeks back when he had severe vomiting after eating outside. I am unsure if that is the reason for opening the mouth wide while frequently vomiting, which triggered the left jaw to lock. Can you suggest some jaw-related exercises to help relieve these symptoms and cure him?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I would say it is a case of the temporomandibular joint, and it is usually self-resolving. It can be severe if the cartilage gets torn inside the joint. So, I will suggest you,

Have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Try to avoid repetitive movements. It is important as repetitive locking can cause pain and damage the cartilage.
Leave it for a few weeks.
Try relaxation exercises.
Apply ice.
Consult your dentist and then take Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants.

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Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have attached the link for the same.

Thank you.

Answer 3

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I do understand your concern.

Thanks for asking again.

I still feel this is a temporomandibular joint disc issue with locking happening when the mouth is opened widely, and the outside pressure maneuver is one of the tricks that the patient can use to avoid the clicks that can be painful, too. OPG is not helpful in this condition, and MRI is the affected TMJ may be needed. Specialized physiotherapy is needed to help train the muscles to act in a manner that helps avoid permanent damage to the disc, as once damaged, it may need surgery, too. Please see a qualified maxillofacial or a dental surgeon for further management.

This is a comprehensive patient guide.

Thank you.