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February 26, 2024
Discover how masseter Botox can offer long-lasting relief from teeth grinding
Does this sound familiar…?
You crawl into bed after a long day, finally ready for some rest. Hours later, you wake up groggy, your jaw feels sore, and there’s a dull ache creeping across your temples. It’s as if you’ve spent the night chewing through an entire pack of extra-strength, industrial-grade chewing gum.
If this sounds like you, then you may be dealing with something called bruxism.
Let’s take a look at what bruxism is, why it’s more common than ever, and how a treatment like Masseter Botox can offer long-lasting relief.
Bruxism is the involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth. It often happens at night while you're asleep, but for some, it occurs during the day too – especially in moments of stress or deep concentration. Many people don’t even realise they’re doing it until symptoms start creeping in, like morning headaches, jaw pain, or your dentist pointing out excessive tooth wear.
In today’s fast-paced, pressure-filled world, it’s no surprise that bruxism is on the rise. Stress and anxiety are some of the biggest triggers, manifesting in our muscles and joints. You see, when our minds are constantly ‘on’, our bodies often respond in silent, subconscious ways. For many of us, we carry stress in our neck and shoulders. For others, this tension may sneak its way into our masseter muscle – causing us to clench our jaws or grind our teeth in our sleep.
The masseter muscle is one of the strongest muscles in the human body based on weight. It’s located at the sides of your jaw and is primarily responsible for chewing. The masseter muscle essentially enables you to open and close your mouth and move your jaw from side to side.
When you have bruxism, this muscle can become hyperactive. That means it’s contracting far more often than it needs to, and with more force. Over time, this overactivity can lead to all kinds of complications, both functional and aesthetic.
Constant grinding wears down the enamel, the protective outer layer of your teeth. This leaves teeth vulnerable to sensitivity, decay, and even nerve exposure.
Excessive pressure from grinding can also cause teeth to chip, crack, or fracture entirely. This can be painful and often requires restorative dental work.
The overuse of the jaw muscles can lead to chronic pain and reduced jaw mobility. You might find it difficult to open your mouth fully or chew comfortably.
When a muscle is overworked, it grows. In bruxism patients, the masseter can become visibly enlarged, giving the lower face a squarer, more prominent appearance.
Tense, overused muscles often become sore. Myalgia in the jaw and neck area is a common side effect of night-time teeth grinding.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw to your skull, can become inflamed and painful from continuous stress.
These disorders can cause clicking, popping, locking of the jaw, and pain that radiates to the ears or head. Left untreated, TMD can severely impact your daily life.
Traditional approaches to bruxism include mouth guards (worn at night to protect the teeth), anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants, and cognitive behavioural therapy to manage stress. While these can provide some relief, they generally don’t address the root cause of an overactive jaw muscles.
That’s where masseter Botox comes in!
In the world of aesthetic medicine, Botox (a purified form of botulinum toxin type A), is best known for smoothing facial wrinkles – but it also has powerful medical uses. When injected into the masseter muscle, Botox temporarily weakens its ability to contract forcefully, reducing the intensity of clenching and grinding.
The treatment doesn’t paralyse the muscle completely, meaning you’ll still be able to chew and speak normally, but it does significantly reduces the pressure placed on the teeth and jaw. This not only relieves pain but can also prevent further damage and improve facial contour in those with masseter hypertrophy.
At the Anti Wrinkle Clinic, you’re in expert hands. Our Clinical Director, Dr Yiannis Valilas, isn’t just an aesthetic practitioner – he’s also a fully qualified general dentist registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) since 2005. His deep understanding of facial anatomy and jaw dynamics ensures that your treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to your needs.
Living with bruxism can be physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you’re tired of waking up in pain, worried about the damage to your teeth, or frustrated with the limitations of night guards and medications, it might be time to explore a different solution.
Bruxism treatment with Masseter Botox could be the thing that finally gives you something to smile comfortably about.
At the Anti Wrinkle Clinic, Dr Yiannis brings together clinical expertise, years of dental experience, and a patient-first approach to help you get back to living life without pain or discomfort. Book your consultation today and take the first step toward a healthier, more relaxed jaw and a better quality of life.
Learn more about our 5 Step Journey and book your Face-to-face hour with Dr Yiannis for a truly different consultation process.
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