Common signs
- Reduced mouth opening, stiff jaw
- Pain or pulling when opening the mouth or chewing
- Jaw that deviates to one side when opening
- Difficulty eating, speaking or yawning
- Sometimes swelling or a scar that limits movement
When to see a doctor
- Fever, redness, heat or discharge at the scar or the jaw
- Pain that increases sharply, or a jaw that locks
- Unable to eat or drink
- Numbness of the face or lip that sets in or worsens
- Bleeding, or sudden pain after a new blow
What physiotherapy does
Physiotherapy supports recovery after surgery or injury, working with the surgeon. It aims to restore mouth opening and jaw mobility through progressive exercises, to soften the scar and to ease pain. The physiotherapist shows exercises to continue on your own: doing them regularly is essential to the result.
Sources
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs): exercises and management (new tab)MSD / Merck Manuals Consumer Version, accessed November 9, 2026
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain: physiotherapy management (jaw exercises) (new tab)Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, accessed November 9, 2026
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (new tab)NHS (National Health Service, United Kingdom), accessed November 9, 2026
Page reviewed on November 9, 2026
This page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.