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How to manage trismus in tobacco or areca nut chewers?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am suffering from a mouth-opening problem. My mouth does not open fully. I used to chew tobacco before. So, how can I get rid of the disease?

Please help.
Answered by Dr. Honey Nandwani

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As per your query, the presentation of symptoms of reduced mouth opening can be due to the most common reason, oral submucous fibrosis, in which thick fibrous bands form below the mucosa of cheeks and lips, leading to stiffening and difficulty in mouth opening.

It is a precancerous condition (although not cancer) and should be taken care of. It is commonly seen in individuals with tobacco and areca nut chewing habits.

You need to consult an oral physician or a dentist and get evaluated, and they can advise applying a steroid ointment in combination with a Hyaluronidase-containing ointment to break fibers. Intralesional injections of steroids and Hyaluronidase can be instructed to be injected after every three to four days.

Anti-oxidant like Lycopene is also advised. Physiotherapy, like blowing cheeks, trying to open the mouth under pressure, etc..

I hope that this answers your query.

Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Divya Banu M
Published At September 10, 2017
Reviewed At November 13, 2025

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Divya Banu M is a dedicated Dental Surgeon with valuable clinical experience. She specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various diseases and conditions affecting the oral cavity. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she is committed to promoting oral health and enhancing smiles through quality dental care. Her areas of expertise include restorative dentistry, preventive dental care, and cosmetic dental procedures.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Honey Nandwani
Dr. Honey Nandwani

Dentistry

Consult this doctor

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Honey Nandwani is a dentist and oral implantologist dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care. She focuses on preventive dentistry, restorative treatments, and advanced oral implant procedures. Her areas of interest include pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, and maxillofacial prosthodontics. With a gentle and patient-centered approach, she strives to make dental care comfortable while helping patients achieve lasting oral health and confident smiles.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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