Botox for Bruxism and Teeth Grinding Almost one-third of all American adults are afflicted with bruxism, and between 10 and 15 percent of those people have moderate to severe bruxism. Bruxism is a catch-all term for teeth grinding and jaw clenching. If you are suffering from bruxism, you should know that you need to get treatment for your condition. There are several solutions available for people who clench or grind their teeth. What Happens When You Have Bruxism?There are a myriad of problems that can occur when you have bruxism. If you clench your teeth, you are not allowing your jaw muscles to relax. Instead, your jaw muscles remain clenched throughout the night rather than relaxing. This type of bruxism can lead to facial pain, inflammation of the temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorder, migraines, and muscle spasms. In fact, you may find it difficult to open and close your mouth at all due to TMJ disorder. It is not any better if you grind your teeth rather than clench them. People who grind their teeth can break or crack their natural teeth, as well as implants, dentures, crowns, or bridges. This can create problems with your oral health and may even require oral surgery. Teeth grinding can also cause pain and infections. Why Do People Get Bruxism?Like many other physical issues, stress is at the top of the list of causes of bruxism. When some people are undergoing a lot of stress and they do not have an outlet for their stress, the body looks for an outlet for the ongoing stress issues. These people may clench or grind their teeth as a stress outlet. Also, people with moderate to severe anxiety disorders are more likely to have bruxism than people who are not anxious in general. If you have anger issues, you have a low tolerance for frustration, or you are overly competitive, you may also be more likely to clench or grind your teeth. Bruxism can occur in people with a chemical imbalance in their brain, such as a lack of sufficient neurotransmitters like serotonin. There are also some medications, especially certain antidepressants, that can cause bruxism. Are There Solutions for Bruxism?Luckily, if you have bruxism, you need to know there are many treatments for the condition. You might want to begin your search for a bruxism treatment with muscle relaxation techniques. For example, some people find that meditation right before bed reduces the likelihood of bruxism. When you are about to go to sleep, be sure your jaw is not clenched, either. Stress-reduction techniques may also help with bruxism. People with a regular outlet for stress, such as exercise, meditation, yoga, or even therapy, can reduce their teeth clenching and grinding. The more severe your stress levels are, the more likely finding outlets for stress can help your bruxism. If you have anxiety, you should talk to a doctor or therapist about treatment possibilities for your anxiety. Many people find benefits in talk therapy as well as anti-anxiety medication to reduce the likelihood of bruxism. One of the earliest treatments for bruxism that dentists used in the past was night guards. Night guards can either be soft or hard pieces of plastic. If you do not have tooth damage due to bruxism, you may be able to have our dentist make a soft nightguard for you to wear at night. In general, you wear a soft nightguard on your upper teeth to make sure you are not clenching or grinding your teeth. Hard plastic nightguards protect teeth from clenching and grinding if they already have damage to their teeth. To make a nightguard, our dentist can make a mold of your teeth, or they may be able to make a 3D image of your teeth to make a guard. People find nightguards to be effective at fighting bruxism, but they can be uncomfortable to wear for some people. Also, if you have a strong gag reflex, nightguards may not be for you. Botox for BruxismBotox is produced by a bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, and it is a toxin. As the bacteria multiplies, it excretes the toxin. Botulism is a serious illness that used to be fatal in the era before antibiotics. Scientists who were doing research on the botulinum toxins found an interesting side effect: the toxin actually helps your muscles relax. Botox (short for botulism toxin) has been used for decades to relax muscles that cause wrinkles in your face. Botox also helps your lips look fuller or thicker. Scientists have also found that Botox can reduce the number of migraines that patients suffer from when it is injected around the face and neck area. Dentists have been using Botox for bruxism for the past decade. Just like other facial muscles, botox helps relax jaw muscles, reducing the likelihood of bruxism. Our dentists can inject small amounts of Botox into your jaw muscles by selecting the facial muscles where you are experiencing the most pain from bruxism. Once the dentist injects Botox into your jaw muscles, you should begin to notice the effects of the injection in one to three days. Some people do not begin to see the effects of Botox injections for up to two weeks. The effects of Botox can last between three months and six months. Like most medications, Botox can have some side effects. You may experience pain at the injection site, headaches, or body aches. What Should I Do if I Think I Have Bruxism?If you think you have bruxism, you can try some of the home remedies that our office suggested in this article. However, if you have tried different treatments and nothing really seems to work, you may want to think about treating your bruxism with Botox. To get treatment with Botox, you will want to consult with your general practitioner to make sure you are able to be treated with the medication. Also, you will need a consultation with one of our dentists. If you are ready to try Botox for bruxism, why not give Advanced Center for Oral Surgery, Facial Surgery and Dental Implants a call at (224) 341-5517, and we can set up an appointment with you for a consultation with us. |
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