Stiff mouth, difficulty eating, swallowing, speaking in patients with head and neck cancer

Hardness of mouth, difficulty eating, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking or stiff jaw is an important symptom of many diseases, belonging to many different specialties, of which the most common is head and neck cancer. If not detected early and treated promptly, the disease can become dangerous. So what should we do in this case?

Stiff jaw or mouth, difficulty eating, swallowing, difficulty speaking is the inability to open the mouth normally. This leads to difficulty eating, swallowing, speaking and taking care of the mouth and can change a person's appearance.
Jaw stiffness is caused by damage to the muscles and nerves that perform the function of chewing or opening the jaw. In patients with head and neck cancer, this can be caused by scar tissue or nerve damage caused by radiation or surgery. It affects anywhere from 10-40% of people treated for head and neck cancer.
When jaw stiffness is caused by radiation, it is often accompanied by other side effects. These side effects include dry mouth, inflammation of the oral mucosa, and pain. Other side effects associated with jaw stiffness include ear and jaw pain, headache, and difficulty hearing.

There are many possible causes of jab, including the following:
Injury: Trauma or injury to the jaw can lead to schizophrenia. Examples: jaw fracture or tissue damage after dental surgery. Contraction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Hematoma, which is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels Injury to the chewing muscles that people use when chewing Inflammation of the lining of the mouth Certain medical conditions cause inflammation in the mouth can cause jaw stiffness. An example is peritonitis, which is an inflammation of the soft tissue around the teeth, potentially leading to impacted molars.
Osteoarthritis of the jaw Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease affecting connective tissue Soft tissue fibrosis, occurs when excess fibrous connective tissue forms Dental surgery Oral surgery, including extraction wisdom teeth, which can cause inflammation in the mouth, can lead to jaw stiffness.
Hypotension, i.e. having to open the mouth wider than normal range of motion, while surgery can also lead to a locked jaw. Infections Infections can contribute to jaw stiffness in some cases. Types of infections that can do this include:
Mumps Tetanus Tonsillitis Peritonsillar abscess Other types of abscess Cancer or cancer treatment Cancerous tumors in the head or throat can affect function of the jawbone. Radiation treatment for these tumors can also cause jaw stiffness.

Although anyone can develop a stiff jaw, certain factors can increase the chance of developing it.
Include factors:
Have head or neck cancer Having radiation treatment for head or neck cancer Recent oral surgery to remove a wisdom tooth Recent trauma to the mouth or jaw Having some type mouth infection

The defining symptom of jaw stiffness is that the jaw does not open fully or opens up to 35 mm.
Other symptoms include:
Jaw pain and cramps Difficulty biting, chewing or brushing teeth Unable to swallow some foods Headache Ear pain Treatment

Stiffness of the jaw can cause many complications that affect a person's quality of life, including:
Oral hygiene problems If a person cannot fully open their mouth, this makes it difficult to maintain good hygiene. teeth become more difficult.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to:
Bad breath (halitosis) Tooth decay (cavity) Infection Hardening of the jaw can also cause.
Difficulty eating If we cannot bite, chew, or swallow properly, there is a possibility of malnutrition and dehydration.
Temporarily switching to a diet of mainly liquid and soft foods may help reduce these risks. Many infectious and traumatic causes of jab can also have associated complications. For example, an oral infection that causes trismus can lead to further infection with facial cellulitis or mandibular osteomyelitis.
If an infection is the cause of trismus, there may be associated complications, such as cellulitis.
Cellulitis is an inflammation of the skin usually caused by an infection. Symptoms include:
Edema, or swelling, Redness of the skin Warmth radiates from the site of infection Pain

Exercises to prevent stiffness of the jaw should be started before radiation treatment and continued indefinitely. You will be shown how to perform exercises that help maintain maximum jaw opening. These exercises should be done 3-4 times a day. The width of the openable jaw will be measured before, during and after the treatment.
Medications such as pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to help treat a stiff jaw. A soft diet may also be helpful. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe oral medications or injections into your jawbone.
Jaw stretchers Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend the use of a jaw stretcher.
In a 2014 study, people who used such a device when performing specific mouth exercises had an average increase in mouth opening by 5.5–7.2 mm.
Dietary changes Individuals may need to make dietary changes until the condition improves. For most people, switching to a diet of soft foods is helpful because these foods can be eaten without opening the mouth too much.
Examples of soft foods include:
Soups Smoothies Yogurt Mashed Potatoes Oatmeal Porridge Beans Boiled Vegetables Stewed Fruits Cheese Fish Until the stiffness is gone, it may be beneficial if you avoid hard foods, crunchy or chewy, such as candy bars, undercooked apples, and chewy meats.
It is best to have any health problems that affect life, patients should go to specialized medical facilities to be examined by a doctor in a timely manner. Early examination and treatment help bring good results and reduce costs for patients.