A. How To Treat Teeth Grinding With Botox And Reduce A Widening Lower Face
It is well known that Botox can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but its effects also extend to teeth grinding. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a problem that plagues many of us. If we clench or grind our teeth during the day or don’t know when we sleep, it could now be Botox.
1. Where is Botox injected to treat teeth grinding?
Don’t worry, we won’t inject anywhere in your mouth – we’ll leave that to the dentists. When we chew we use the masticatory muscles and one of these muscles is called the masseter muscle. These muscles are located from the cheek to the jaw. Botox is injected into the masseter muscles.
2. How does Botox affect the masseter muscles?
The clinical effects of Botox on bruxism have been shown to be effective. Once injected into the masseter muscles, Botox works by temporarily relaxing the muscles and blocking nerve signals from reaching the muscles, which play a key role in toning and grinding. Botox helps relieve and prevent involuntary bruxism movements. Botox is also used in this area for masseter reduction. All that clenching and grinding of teeth can make our masseter muscles bigger, which makes our faces appear wider. Many patients wish to reduce their masseters, and Botox can also help thin the face by relaxing these jaw muscles. There is even the added benefit of there being the potential for pronounced cheekbones with this treatment.
3. Other benefits of a botox injection into the masseter muscle
In addition to the obvious benefits of relieving the pain of teeth grinding and clenching, it can:
- Relieve jaw tension
- Balance the face
- Slender the look of a wide jaw
- Eliminate headaches originating in the jaw area
4. Why Choose Botox to Stop Teeth Grinding?
Quite simply, many do not want to afford the burden of wearing a face mask. Botox is:
- Non-invasive, no downtime so your daily routine is not disrupted
- An affordable option for many.
- Not painful. Even patients who claim to be sensitive to pain find Botox more comfortable than expected
- Has the added benefit of reshaping the face to reduce bulky masseter muscles and create a feminine shape
- Considered the perfect lunchtime treat, it takes less than 30 minutes to make
B. Botox Treatment For Clenching And Grinding Teeth
1. How Does Botox Squeeze and Crunch Treatment Work?
Injecting small doses of Botox (botulinum toxin) directly into the masseter muscle (the jaw) weakens the muscle enough that the usual grinding of teeth and clenching of the jaw stops. It relieves stress on the temporomandibular joint and significantly relaxes the muscle, reducing wear and tear on teeth from bruxism (crunching or grinding).
2. What is the best treatment for pinching and grinding?
We are often asked what the best treatment for bruxism is. There is no proven treatment for bruxism. We often recommend a variety of different treatment combinations, like botox in the jaw muscles (masseter muscle near the jaw joint) and appliances like Tanner Mouth Guard or Michigan Mouth Guard to protect your teeth. In some cases we can also recommend medication.
3. Is Botox Treatment Safe for Bruxism?
Botulinum toxin is a natural toxin that weakens the chewing muscles when injected in very small amounts. It is safe to use when injected by an experienced doctor.
4. What side effects does Botox have for clenching jaws (bruxism)?
Botox injections into the masseter to tighten and grind teeth do not have many side effects, and the only reported immediate side effect is a slight “crooked smile” in about 8% of patients, which returned to normal after a few weeks. In some very rare cases (less than 1%), fatigue may occur that lasts only a few days.
5. How long does jaw botox take to work?
The treatment works in about 10 to 14 days. If you are new to this treatment, we sometimes ask to see you in 2 to 4 weeks for a check-up. This is to ensure that the dose administered is optimal and that the treatment is effective. There are no costs for the check. We may charge £100 to cover the product charge if we need to use additional botox. Please see price below for product cost.
6. How Long Does Botox Last on the Jaw Muscle?
The effects last from 3 to 6 months, depending on how quickly your body metabolizes the botox. This means that the duration varies from person to person. We recommend repeating the treatment every 4 to 6 months.
7. How Much Does Botox Cost to Tighten Jaws?
Botox for Tooth Lifting and Teeth Grinding in South Kensington London at our clinic costs £345 to £445 (£345 for up to 50 sessions and an additional cost of £100 for between 51 and 100 sessions). The price discrepancy is because for stronger muscles, bigger jaws, and more muscle, we have to charge more product. An appointment is required and costs £105. We are just minutes from South Kensington underground station.
C. Bruxism & Botox: Can Botox Stop Teeth Grinding?
The medical term bruxism describes the unconscious action of teeth grinding or clenching. In most cases, sufferers are unaware of their bruxism until it starts causing physical pain and dental problems. Occasional teeth grinding is usually harmless, but becomes a problem when it becomes chronic. Those suffering from bruxism experience headaches, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, earaches, migraines, facial pain, and wear and tear on teeth and jaw muscles. While current treatments for bruxism, like wearing a mouthguard at night or nighttime stress-relief routines, focus on preventing ongoing tooth damage, new studies show that Botox can stop teeth grinding entirely.
1. What is botox and how is it an effective treatment for bruxism?
Botox, a cosmetic anti-wrinkle treatment option derived from botulinum toxin type A, is used to combat the first signs of aging. When injected into the facial muscles around the eyes, mouth, forehead and nose, it can help temporarily reduce the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet and deep laugh lines. However, it also proves to be an effective treatment for those who suffer from teeth grinding.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Neurology in 2018 confirmed that botulinum injections into the masseter and temporal muscles improve painful symptoms associated with unconscious sleep bruxism. Those who received Botox injections during the study found that their symptoms improved greatly, and the researchers noted that they had cosmetic changes to their smiles.
2. How is a botox procedure performed on someone with bruxism?
When the person comes in for treatment, a small dose of Botox is injected directly into the masseter muscle. This muscle controls the movement of your jaw. Botox weakens the muscle enough to prevent you from clenching and moving your jaw involuntarily. This is significant because the relaxation provided by the Botox injection reduces tooth wear, as well as reducing headaches, facial pain, migraines and earaches. While Botox significantly relaxes the masseter muscle, you can continue to chew normally and show facial expressions.
3. Why Get Botox Over Traditional Treatment Options?
One of the main problems with teeth grinding and jaw clenching is the painful symptoms that follow. A person suffering from sleep bruxism often complains of pain in the jaw muscles in the morning. Unfortunately, traditional treatment options, like wearing a surgical mask at night or taking anti-inflammatory medication the next morning, aren’t enough to reduce painful side effects. Using Botox to grind your teeth is also a great alternative for those who want to avoid invasive surgical techniques.
D. How Botox Could Save Your Teeth
An estimated 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. Some people find that they grind their teeth when they are nervous, and others unknowingly grind their teeth at night. No matter when you try this habit, it can have a detrimental effect on the well-being of your teeth over time, as wear and tear wears down your enamel, causes jaw pain and headaches, and can even lead to chipped teeth! For many years, the best treatment for teeth grinding or clenching was to wear a mouthguard to sleep or to control the nerves associated with stressful situations. However, in recent years, dentists have been experimenting with a new, somewhat surprising solution with promising results: Botox injections. You may have heard of Botox before, but probably as a treatment for wrinkles and muscle spasms. Today we’re exploring how Botox can be used to relieve teeth grinding and you’ll be surprised at what you learn!
1. How will it work?
Derived from botulinum toxin, IBotox works by temporarily paralyzing muscles in a concentrated location. This has made it useful both as an anti-wrinkle treatment and to treat conditions marked by muscle spasms. Recent research has shown that injecting small amounts of Botox into the masseter muscle just below your cheekbones, the frontal muscle in your forehead, and the temporomandibular muscle in your temples can relax stressed muscles in your jaw and significantly reduce the amount of grinding or clenching. A patient experiences what leads to healthier teeth and a reduction in headaches and jaw pain. Botox is a temporary solution as the injection wears off over time, but it’s entirely possible to repeat the injections as needed if your dentist deems it advisable.
2. Are there any side effects?
While Botox helps relieve the symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching in the short-term, a permanent, long-term solution has yet to be found. Some studies have shown that repeated use of Botox can lead to loss of bone density over time. Other long-term side effects are still being researched, but in the short-term some have found that relaxing facial muscles can lead to a decreased ability to express facial emotions. These cosmetic effects usually disappear a few weeks after the injection. Because Botox is a medical treatment, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons with your dentist before proceeding with any treatment.
Luckily, if you suffer from clenching or teeth grinding, there are many ways to restore your teeth to a healthy, relaxed state. Your dentist may want to explore other treatment options prior to Botox, such as: a night-time mouthguard, acupuncture or stress management during the day.
