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I cannot open my mouth fully. Is it due to grinding my teeth while sleeping?

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Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am unable to open my mouth fully. I have jaw pain for a week. It hurts a lot when I open my mouth wide. My mum tells me that I clench my teeth and grind them while sleeping.

Answered by Dr. Mousam Chattopadhyay

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Mousam Chattopadhyay is a Dental Surgeon with expertise in restorative dentistry, root canal treatment, cosmetic procedures, and minor oral surgeries. He is skilled in smile designing, dental implants, and preventive dental care for patients of all age groups. Dr. Chattopadhyay is committed to providing precise, pain-free, and patient-focused care, ensuring optimal oral health, functional restoration, and confident smiles through personalized treatment plans.    

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

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Kindly upload an image of the jaw. You can have a third molar eruption and so you have pain and reduced jaw opening as common findings. Kindly ask your mum whether you have clenching and grinding on a regular basis. Stress, pain, or trauma, stimulations such as coffee can initiate bruxism. So special care has to be taken for it. It can lead to serious dental issues causing severe sensitivity and decayed tooth. When your pain and reduced jaw opening gets resolved, try to have a mouth guard by consulting a dentist for preventing upper and lower jaws from touching during sleeping. Stress-relieving activities like yoga, gym, and listening to music can be followed.

Kindly upload an image of the lower jaw to know whether you have a third molar eruption. For now, you can take capsule Sporidex 500 mg (Cephalexin 500 mg) twice a day for five days. You can take tablet Ibuprofen twice a day for five days, and tablet Omeprazole twice a day before meals for five days. Use Betadine mouthwash and gargle it with lukewarm water two to three times a day.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At August 29, 2020
Reviewed At June 23, 2026

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Mousam Chattopadhyay is a Dental Surgeon with expertise in restorative dentistry, root canal treatment, cosmetic procedures, and minor oral surgeries. He is skilled in smile designing, dental implants, and preventive dental care for patients of all age groups. Dr. Chattopadhyay is committed to providing precise, pain-free, and patient-focused care, ensuring optimal oral health, functional restoration, and confident smiles through personalized treatment plans.    

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

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

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

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

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Mousam Chattopadhyay is a Dental Surgeon with expertise in restorative dentistry, root canal treatment, cosmetic procedures, and minor oral surgeries. He is skilled in smile designing, dental implants, and preventive dental care for patients of all age groups. Dr. Chattopadhyay is committed to providing precise, pain-free, and patient-focused care, ensuring optimal oral health, functional restoration, and confident smiles through personalized treatment plans.    

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

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