What causes Bruxism
It’s perfectly normal to grind and clench your teeth on occasion but when it happens on nearly a daily basis, it might be bruxism.
Stress and anxiety are the primary reasons why people tend to grind their teeth, particularly when they’re sleeping. An abnormal bite, missing teeth and sleep apnea are other potential reasons why this occurs.
If you wake up with a headache or sore jaw on most mornings, there’s a good chance you might have bruxism. A dentist will also be able to tell you whether you grind your teeth by looking at whether certain teeth are wearing down.
When left untreated, bruxism can lead to a loss of teeth and a square jaw. This is because the masseter muscle is continuously getting stronger, the longer you grind your teeth. Not only will you end up needing implants or dentures much earlier in life but your appearance will gradually change too.
Bruxism Treatment Options
At Skin Confidence Clinic, we use anti-wrinkle injections to keep teeth grinding to a minimum and soften the jaw.
To treat bruxism, we inject the masseter muscle several times using a series of anti-wrinkle injections. The masseter muscles are the large muscles near the backs of the cheeks that move the jaw. The injections work by relaxing this muscle to prevent involuntary teeth grinding and clenching of the jaw. This will gradually soften the jaw and prevent further damage to the teeth. Patients will also find that they experience fewer headaches. Chewing and facial expressions are not affected by anti-wrinkle injections.
Most patients will need around 40 – 60 units to treat bruxism and the effects can last up to six months. However, this all depends on how slowly your body metabolises the injections. While anti-wrinkle injections are not a cure for bruxism, they can provide relief for several months at a time. They will also prevent the jaw from taking on a more square appearance, which is particularly important for women.
When left untreated, bruxism can
lead to a loss of teeth
and a square jaw
Following your treatment, you will need to wait several days for the injections to take effect. There might be some slight redness and bruising at the injections sites but this will fade away within a few days. It’s important not to lie down for a few hours after your treatment or engage in any vigorous exercise for a few days. Patients should also try not to eat anything for a few hours after their treatment or move the jaw unnecessarily.
Ongoing treatments will be required to maintain the results and reduce teeth grinding.
If you wake up with a headache or sore jaw on most mornings, there’s a good chance you might have bruxism
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