Understanding Jaw Stiffness and Soreness After Wisdom Teeth Removal

It’s completely normal to feel frustrated if your jaw starts to feel tight or sore after having your wisdom teeth removed. Jaw stiffness and soreness after wisdom teeth removal can make the recovery more uncomfortable than you expected, especially when it affects things like eating, speaking, or even sleeping. Today, our South Perth Dentist will explain some possible causes of jaw stiffness after wisdom tooth surgery and gentle solutions to make you feel better.

What Causes Jaw Stiffness and Soreness After Removing Wisdom Teeth?

Your jaw may feel stiff or sore after wisdom tooth extraction for a few different reasons. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes:

Swelling and Inflammation

After the procedure, it is normal for the area around your wisdom teeth to swell; this is just a part of healing. This swelling can put pressure on your jaw muscles and joints and make it harder for you to move your mouth easily and freely. As we said before, inflammation is part of the healing process, but it can lead to feeling tightness or soreness in your jaw after your wisdom teeth are removed.

Muscle Strain from Keeping Mouth Open During Surgery

You may need to keep your mouth open for a while so that your dentist can remove your wisdom teeth, which can make your jaw muscles tired, like how your legs feel after holding a squat too long. Your jaw may feel sore or tight for a few days after your procedure.

Trauma to Surrounding Tissues During Extraction

Even when the dentist is really careful, removing wisdom teeth can still cause some irritation around your gums and jaw. This can cause some swelling, bruising, or soreness in your jaw after your wisdom teeth are extracted.

Post-Operative Infection

After the dentist removes your wisdom teeth, keeping your mouth clean is very important. If bacteria enter the extraction site, it can cause an infection to develop and lead to swelling, pain, and even soreness or stiffness in your jaw. This can make it harder for you to open your mouth and also slow down recovery.

Dry Socket (Alveolar Osteitis)

In some cases, jaw stiffness and soreness after wisdom teeth removal can be caused by a dry socket. A dry socket happens when the blood clot that protects the area where your tooth was removed, comes out too soon. When that happens, the bone and nerves underneath are exposed, which can lead to significant pain that might spread to your jaw and make it feel sore or stiff.

Nerve Irritation or Damage

Wisdom teeth in your lower jaw are close to a major nerve, and in rare cases, this nerve can get irritated during surgery. If that happens, you might feel tingling, numbness, or aching in your jaw, lips, or tongue, which can also make your jaw feel sore or tight.

Bruising of Jaw Muscles

Sometimes, the muscles in your jaw may get bruised from the pressure your dentist uses during tooth removal, especially if the procedure was complicated or took a long time. Bruised jaw muscles can make your jaw feel sore, stiff, and tender for a few days.

Limited Jaw Movement (Trismus)

After dental surgery, some people may experience some stiffness or soreness in the muscles near their jaw. This is called trismus and it means your jaw muscles aren’t moving as freely as usual, and it can make it hard to open your mouth fully. It usually gets better with rest and gentle jaw exercises.

Reaction to Anaesthesia

In some cases, your jaw muscles may react to the numbing injection and get stiff or sore for a while after surgery, especially if the anaesthetic is injected near your jaw joint or muscles. This can make your jaw feel stiff and sore for a little while, but it often goes away in a few days as the anaesthesia fully wears off.

Clenching or Grinding Teeth Post-Surgery

Sometimes, you may unconsciously clench or grind your teeth, especially while you’re sleeping—possibly due to the stress or discomfort from your dental surgery. This puts extra pressure on your jaw, which can lead to soreness or even inflammation, and it may slow down healing.

How Long Does Jaw Discomfort Last?

Let’s look at how long you may feel jaw stiffness and soreness after wisdom teeth removal and what can affect this recovery time:

Typical Recovery Time: Most people begin to feel a lot better just a few days after surgery. The jaw pain and stiffness usually start to get better within the first week.

Personal Healing Rates: People heal differently—some heal very quickly, while others need a little more time.

This can also depend on your overall health and how well you follow your dentist’s post-surgery care instructions.

Complexity of the Surgery: If your wisdom teeth were impacted or the procedure was complicated for some other reason, the stiffness or soreness you experience in your jaw may take longer.

Care After Surgery: How well and how quickly your jaw starts to get better can depend a lot on how well you take care of yourself after the procedure. Keeping your mouth clean and using ice packs can help you heal faster.

Activity Levels: If you relax and avoid heavy activity for a few days following your wisdom tooth extraction, you can help reduce swelling and discomfort. Getting back to intense activities too quickly can make healing take longer.

If your jaw stiffness or soreness after wisdom teeth removal doesn’t start to improve after a week or seems to be getting worse, contact your dentist. 

Your recovery isn’t going as expected? Don’t wait it out — our Emergency Dentist Perth is here to help you feel better fast.

Managing Pain and Stiffness: Practical Tips

Here are some simple, practical tips you can try to help you manage pain and stiffness after getting your wisdom teeth removed:

Ice Packs: If your jaw feels sore or swollen, put an ice pack on the side of your face where your wisdom tooth was removed. This can help with pain and swelling. You can place this ice pack on for 15 minutes, then take it off for 15 minutes for the first 24 hours after your wisdom tooth removal.

Pain Relief Medication: You can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol but make sure you follow the instructions about the dosage you are supposed to take.

Soft Foods: Eat soft foods like yoghurt, soup, and applesauce for the first few days. Because the extraction site will be sore or tender for a while, you should try to avoid chewing near that area to help reduce pain and prevent irritation.

Salt Water Rinses: After 24 hours, you can gently rinse with warm salt water a few times a day, especially after eating something, to help keep the area clean and reduce soreness.

Rest: Your body needs time to heal, so make sure you rest and take it for a few days after your procedure. Being too active may increase swelling and cause the pain and soreness to linger.

Keep Your Head Elevated: Using a few more pillows to keep your head elevated while lying down may help reduce swelling and reduce pain.

Avoid Smoking: It is highly recommended to avoid smoking before and after wisdom tooth surgery because it can interfere with healing and increase the risk of complications, leading to more pain.

Whether you’re preparing or just researching, our guide on wisdom teeth removal in Perth is the perfect resource.

When to Seek Help: Signs Your Symptoms Aren’t Normal

Now let’s talk about what symptoms are not considered normal parts of healing and require professional attention.

As we mentioned earlier, some jaw stiffness and soreness after wisdom teeth removal are normal and we explained what may be the cause. These symptoms must disappear and gradually improve with time.

However, if the pain and discomfort after wisdom tooth surgery do not start to get better within about 5 to 7 days or if you notice they are getting worse instead, it could be a sign of a problem.

After you have your wisdom teeth extracted, be careful about signs of complications. Pain and swelling that do not seem to be improving and are becoming sharper and spreading to other areas should not be ignored, especially if they are accompanied by other unusual symptoms.

Things like persistent pain, swelling that doesn’t get better, or difficulty opening your mouth may indicate complications such as infection, dry socket, or muscle-related issues.

As a general rule, if you wait a full week and your symptoms do not get better or suddenly start to get worse, contact your dentist or surgeon as soon as you can.

Exercises to Ease Jaw Stiffness

Here are a few easy exercises to help you with jaw stiffness after wisdom teeth extraction, which may make it easier for you to move your mouth:

Gentle Jaw Movements

Try to gently open and close your mouth until you feel some resistance, but not pain. Repeat this movement 5-10 times. Move your jaw gently from side to side and then forward and backward. Do this 5 times in each direction.

Jaw Stretches

Try to open your mouth as wide as you can (only as much as it feels comfortable), hold for a few seconds, and then slowly close it. Repeat 5 times. Try stretching your jaw to the point where you feel a stretch but no pain. Hold each stretch for about 10 seconds.

Massage

Use your fingers to gently massage the muscles around your jaws, cheeks, and temple. This exercise can help reduce tension and improve blood flow. Do this for a few minutes, and focus more on areas that feel tight.

Relaxation Techniques

Deep breathing can also relax your entire body and help ease tension in your jaw muscles.

Heat Therapy

Place a warm towel or heat pack on the sides of your face. This can help your jaw feel less tight and more relaxed. Just make sure it’s warm, not too hot.

Remember to do these exercises gently and stop if you feel any pain. It’s also a good idea to check with your dentist or oral surgeon before starting these exercises, especially if your surgery was complicated or you’re experiencing significant pain. These movements should help you feel better day by day!

Get Expert Help for Your Dental Needs

Experience personalised dental care tailored just for you at our clinic. Whether you’re recovering from wisdom teeth removal or seeking routine dental health services, our team of experienced professionals is here to provide expert guidance and support. We prioritise your comfort and dental health, ensuring a smooth and reassuring experience every step of the way. Contact us today (08) 9474 5083 to see how we can help you achieve optimal oral health and keep your smile bright and healthy.