For some people who will undergo wisdom teeth removal, they will find that opening their mouth fully following the procedure will be problematic, while others will not have this problem.

“The inability to open the mouth fully after wisdom tooth removal is usually due to the stretching of the muscles and ligaments of the face during the extraction,” explains Guy M. Hanson, DDS, MBA, MAGD, Academy of General Dentistry.

“Since the wisdom teeth are the teeth furthest back in the mouth, it is often necessary to open the mouth wider than normal in order to access them. Many individuals do not experience this issue.”

For the days following the removal of your wisdom teeth, you will be instructed not to eat solid foods.

In fact, you’ll be permitted only beverages like water and juice, and broth soups in the days immediately following the extraction.

So you don’t have to worry about not being able to fully open your mouth during the first week.

The situation is temporary. Think of it as sore muscles from a workout. They will need their rest and will recover. Wisdom teeth removal

Dr. Hanson retired in 2014 after practicing dentistry for 35 years at the former Idaho Dental Wellness Center.

Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer. 

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