Do you or someone you know grind your teeth? Have you been thinking about getting botox for bruxism? Or perhaps you’ve been asking, ‘is botox for bruxism safe?’
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It is often associated with increased stress and anxiety, and most of the time it happens at night while you sleep.
You may not even be aware that you are clenching or grinding your teeth, but it can sometimes lead to other side effects too. These include -
- Migraines or headaches
- Earache
- Pain in the face
- Teeth problems such as increased sensitivity and teeth that become worn down, and/or broken and damaged fillings
- Jaw pain
- Broken sleep
How does Botox for Bruxism work?
Botox for bruxism works by weakening your jaw muscle’s ability to respond to your brain’s signal.
For instance, if you think about how Botox is used to treat frown lines, the principle is the same. Your brain may tell you that you need to frown, but if your muscle isn’t capable of following out that action then the frown response is decreased.
Botox injection sites for bruxism are targeted in your jaw’s masseter muscle thus weakening your jaw’s ability to carry out the clenching or grinding, and therefore stopping – or severely reducing – your bruxism.
Due to the fact that teeth grinding often happens at night when you’re asleep, it’s not quite as simple as just being able to stop doing it of your own accord.
Yes, there are certain things you can do to help with your teeth grinding, but botox for sleep bruxism is often the method that delivers the best results. However, you might also want to try the following ideas -
- Bruxism mouth guards or splints – these are worn at night and protect your teeth from your jaw’s grinding and clenching motion
- Enamel rebuilding toothpastes and mouthwashes – if your teeth have already suffered damage from grinding these products can help improve your teeth’s enamel and relieve sensitivity
- Relaxation exercises – these can help get you to a calm state before bedtime to ensure teeth grinding is less likely to occur
- CBT to target stress and anxiety – if your bruxism is a result of too much stress or anxiety it’s wise to try and tackle the reasons behind this
- Facial massage – can help to soothe and alleviate any tension in the face
Are there any side effects following Botox treatment for Bruxism?
Botox for bruxism is safe when carried out by a qualified and experienced practitioner. Botox is a natural toxin and when small doses are injected into your masseter muscle, it is a highly effective treatment for teeth grinding and clenching.
The majority of clients report zero side effects, though some may experience or notice that their smile is a little askew after this treatment. This is nothing to worry about and it usually corrects itself within a couple of weeks or sooner.
There have also been reports of some patients experiencing fatigue after this treatment. This is a much rarer reaction to botox for bruxism and subsides within a couple of days.
If you are concerned about anything after your treatment, the Este Medical team is always on hand to speak to you.
How long does Botox take to work for Bruxism?
Once you’ve received your treatment it will take a little time to get to work. You can expect to enjoy results in around 10 – 14 days. At this point, your jaw muscle will no longer be able to act on the nerve signal from your brain that tells you to clench or grind your teeth. That’s because the muscle has been temporarily weakened, and you can breathe a sigh of relief that finally you’ll get some respite from all that unwanted teeth grinding.
So, does botox work for bruxism? Yes it does – and you can look forward to enjoying the results for around three to six months post treatment. If you’ve truly had enough of waking up every morning with facial aches and pains associated with night-time teeth grinding, now’s the time to take action.
If mouthguards simply don’t work for you (let’s face it, they’re hardly the most comfortable item to wear in bed), and if you’ve tried to tackle your stress and anxiety levels but still find that your bruxism continues, Botox injections for bruxism make perfect sense.
The treatment process is simple and straightforward, and just like any other injection, you may feel a little pin prick sensation at the site. If you’re worried about the procedure, there’s no need to be. Este Medical practitioners are highly skilled at injecting Botox and always take the time to talk through your specific concerns before you undergo treatment.
Rest assured, that at Este Medical, you will be in the safest of hands for your botox for bruxism procedure. To find out more and book in for your initial consultation call our expert team today.
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