Can Botox Ease Teeth Grinding?

Can Botox Ease Teeth Grinding?

Published on 1:08 pm, Fri, 28 June 19

While Botox is probably most well-known for its ability to smooth wrinkles, it has a number of other uses.

In fact, many plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and dentists are discovering that Botox may be able to alleviate the pain caused by teething grinding.

What Is Teeth Grinding?

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, occurs when the muscles that move the jaw (masseter muscles) become hyperactive as the person is in the early stages on sleep.

Many individuals aren’t even aware that they are grinding their teeth until they experience jaw soreness, headaches, pain behind the eyes, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, or microfractures in the teeth.

What Is Botox?

Botox is an injectable neurotoxin that temporarily blocks nerve signals and limits muscle contraction.

How Can Botox Ease Teeth Grinding?

Botox can be injected into overactive masseter muscles that are responsible for teeth grinding. By limiting movement of the jaw, Botox is able to decrease a patient’s ability to unconsciously grind or clench during the night.

Does It Really Work?

Injectors that have treated teeth grinding with Botox report that their patients’ soreness, headaches, pain, and stiffness have greatly improved.

The effects of each treatment typically last three-to-four months. However, some aesthetic experts believe that, over time, Botox could train masseter muscles to stay relaxed and reduce the frequency of injections.

Aesthetic Improvements From Botox Use in the Masseter Muscle

Patients that receive Botox for their bruxism may also note aesthetic improvements. Because treatment weakens the masseter muscle, some men and women are finding that their jawline looks less bulky and more refined.

In fact, patients without bruxism often request Botox in their masseter muscles to taper their jawline and slim the lower face.

To learn more about how Botox can ease teeth grinding and refine your jawline, please call our office today to schedule a consultation.