Jaw pain and stiffness after tooth extraction?

I had two teeth extracted about a week ago on the same side of my mouth, one on top and one on bottom. Since then, my jaw on that side has been REALLY sore. It hurts to open it up wide, like if I'm yawning, and it hurts to chew. It also feels really stiff and like it might pop out of place at any moment (though it hasn't before). Could this be because they had to inject novocaine into the joint when the extracted my teeth? What else could cause this? I've heard of TMJ disorders...could that be a possibility? I've never had a problem before these extractions and I really hope it's going to go away soon. I'm a little concerned and I am honestly scared that I'm going to dislocate it or something when I'm chewing or yawning. I have a follow up with my oral surgeon on Friday but I figured I would try to get some answers now. Thanks!

Jaw pain and stiffness after tooth extraction?
I had my two left-side wisdom teeth (top %26amp; bottom) extracted on February 8th. My jaw ached until probably yesterday! Today is the first day that (so far) I have almost no discomfort, but I still feel strange tingling sensations now and then and the swelling is probably about 98% gone (but I can still notice a tiny bit). I called my oral surgeon to make sure this was normal because I had the two on the right side taken out about 6 months ago and it wasn't nearly this bad.





He assured me that this is normal. He said that unless the pain is excruciating (which could be the sign of a dry socket), it's perfectly normal to experience soreness for a week or more.





I can tell you that it IS normal to not be able to open your mouth all the way at first. It will take a little bit of time to get back to your old self, trust me. I assumed that because my last extraction was relatively easy, that this one had gone horribly wrong. Apparently, my last one healed unusually quickly and this time it's more of a "normal" healing process.





Still, it's been a very uncomfortable process and I was only really able to eat solid foods starting this past sunday, and still mostly only on the side that didn't have extractions this time.





Remember to always rinse after you eat anything (preferably with salt water). This helps get rid of stray food particles and the salt water aids in the healing process. I know it's not the best tasting, but it does work.





Did your surgeon prescribe antibiotics to stave off infection? If so, make sure you take them religiously until they're gone.





Also, if you have no Ibuprofen allergies, I found that taking Ibuprofen really helps with the soreness (especially at bedtime, when it's uncomfortable to sleep on that side of your face!)... Occasionally, I would still put a small icepack against my cheek, and that helped a little as well.





Just take it slow with what you're eating. Don't force hard solid foods if your jaw isn't ready for them... I know soups and mushy foods get boring after a while but hang in there!





I'm only just starting to feel normal again and it's been over a week so sometimes it just takes longer - remember that it's a lot of trauma to your jaw and your mouth has to readjust to this. After my first extractions, I healed pretty quickly but then about a month later, I would have these random, sort of intense bursts of pain, so I called the surgeon, who told me that this is normal as the teeth are still moving around and adjusting to the new space. Eventually, it did stop!





Be patient and careful and you should be fine!
Reply:Stay away from chewey foods, and try taking a muscle relaxer. This is common when your mouth is open for long periods of time. If it doesn't start healing in another two to three days I would suggest going and seeing your doctor to be sure that you don't have TMJ. Most people just don't get TMJ from seeing a dentist and having your mouth open for that long, it's normally something that starts from clenching and grinding your teeth. If you do have that problem talk to your dentist about getting a mouth splint to wear at night time as well as going to physio therapy
Reply:Try some heat on your jaw to help ease the stiffness. If this persists then tell the Dr about your symptoms they may need to have a better look at it to determine what is going on. I hope you feel better!
Reply:I had two teeth pulled several months ago and experienced the same issues. It goes away, but it was difficult to yawn, chew, and sometimes even talk. It gets better. Hang in there!