How to treat teeth grinding with Botox
Botox for teeth grinding, Maidstone, Kent
It’s a well-known fact that Botox can ease the appearance of wrinkles, but did you know that it’s abilities also extend to teeth grinding. If you often wake up in the morning with a sore jaw or a headache, you may be suffering from a condition known as bruxism, also commonly referred to as teething grinding. Teeth grinding is a condition that causes sufferers to clench their jaw either during the night or throughout the day, particularly when they’re feeling stressed.
Recently it was reported that one in 10 people in the UK grind their teeth, while other research suggests it’s between 15–20%, and often people will not be aware that they grind their teeth until the damage has already been done.
Aside from causing headaches and jaw stiffness, jaw grinding could lead to serious damage to your teeth and jaw if left untreated. This is everything you need to know, from why bruxism occurs to how to treat it effectively.
What causes teeth grinding?
While smoking, alcohol, sleep disorders and certain medications can cause bruxism, the predominant cause of teeth grinding is stress. When we’re feeling stressed, we often subconsciously tighten specific muscles, including those in our jaws. This causes them to clench, leading to both rows of teeth grinding together.
The majority of people who grind their teeth are doing so subconsciously and are unaware that they’re causing damage.
How to spot it
Headaches, muscle aches (in the jaw, neck, shoulders, and sometimes back), cracked teeth and even earache are all symptoms of bruxism. But for many, the awareness that they are grinding their teeth and clenching their jaw comes from a routine trip to the dentist, as a key symptom of bruxism is teeth fractures.
As well as harming teeth, bruxism can disturb sleep and cause the jaw muscles on the side of the face to become squarer and enlarged, leading to a widening of the face.
What can be done to stop teeth grinding?
Start by understanding the underlying causes – a trip to your GP can help with this. Look at how you can improve your overall wellbeing, including exercise, meditation, and other stress relieving activities.
Your dentist may also recommend a mouth guard to help minimise the damage you do to your teeth whilst grinding in your sleep.
If this doesn’t help, or if you are starting to experience damage to your teeth or jaw, Botox can be administered into the masseter muscles to reduce hyperactivity and clenching. Botox is well-known for its wrinkle-relaxing abilities, but it isn’t only beneficial for the upper face. Once injected into the masseter muscles, Botox works by temporarily relaxing the muscles, reducing nerve signals reaching the muscles that play a pivotal role in clenching and grinding. The results will become apparent after approximately ten days and typically last between four and six months.
Beyond this, Botox injections can also produce a slimmer facial appearance and even help define the cheekbones as the jaw muscles soften and make way for the bones of the face to look more pronounced and sculpted. This kind of treatment goes way beyond the aesthetic and can really impact a person’s quality of life.
If you’d like to find out more about Botox for bruxism and whether it’s right for you, click here to book a consultation with an expert practitioner.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
