Botulinum Toxin (BTX) is licensed for various medical conditions, including eye muscle disorders, chronic migraines, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), and bruxism (teeth grinding).

It is a proven, effective treatment for reducing the symptoms of bruxism, including jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the overactivity of the “chewing muscles” (masseter and sometimes temporalis). It can cause:

  • Teeth grinding
  • Pain or discomfort in the masseter, temporalis muscles, and sometimes the temporomandibular joints (TMJ)
  • Tooth enamel wear

This condition typically occurs during sleep and can be aggravated by stress or anxiety, affecting approximately 10% of the population.

How Does Botulinum Toxin Help?

BTX therapy involves injecting small amounts of the toxin into the masseter muscles, using a very fine needle. Over the course of about 2 weeks, the muscles relax, reducing the activity that causes teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Treatment can also target the temporalis muscle, if necessary, for additional relief.

Repeated BTX treatments can lead to a slimming effect along the jawline as the treated muscles reduce in size.

Safety and Considerations

BTX is generally safe, but it is not recommended for:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Individuals with certain neurological conditions (e.g., Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome)
  • Please inform your doctor if you have any such conditions before proceeding with treatment.
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How Long Do Results Last?

  • Duration: The effects typically last 3-4 months, but this can vary from person to person.
  • Factors Affecting Duration: Muscle size, BTX dosage, frequency of treatments, and individual responses all influence how long results last.
  • Individual Variability: Some patients may experience shorter results, especially athletes or those with a high metabolism, as they may metabolise BTX more quickly.

Possible Side Effects

While rare, some temporary side effects may include:

Temporary asymmetry: In some cases, slight asymmetry in the jawline or smile, which usually resolves on its own.

Bruising: At or near the injection site, especially if taking medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E. Typically resolves within 7-10 days.

Mild muscle weakness: Uncommon with masseter muscles but can occur with other muscle groups.

Prices

Botox to prevent teeth/jaw clenching (Bruxism)£395.00

Frequently Asked Questions

Botox® is the trade name for one of the Botulinum purified neurotoxin complexes type A, and it is licensed to treat (glabella) frown lines, and crow’s feet (smile lines). I will refer to it as BTX generically from now on.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox®/Bocouture®/Azzalure®) is licensed for the treatment of some of eye muscle disorders, chronic migraine, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and some other medical conditions such as bruxism.

Bruxism is overactivity of the ‘chewing muscles’ (the masseter +/- temporalis muscles.

This can cause teeth grinding and pain in the masseter and temporalis muscles (jaw and temple), and sometimes temporomandibular joints. The pain is often worse in the morning, and sufferers are three times more likely to experience headaches.

Bruxism occurs in about 10% of the population, usually at night and can wear away the tooth enamel. Your dentist may notice that you are teeth grinding and suggest a brace.

It can be caused or aggravated during periods of increased stress or anxiety.

BTX therapy for bruxism is performed by injecting small amounts of the drug into the masseter muscles using a very fine needle. The muscles gradually relax over a period of 2 weeks, thus reducing the activity of the main muscle used in mastication, and jaw clenching. The other muscle used in jaw clenching is the temporalis, which can also be treated, if necessary, but needs an additional dose of BTX.

BTX relaxes the muscles, and with repeated injections, the muscles can also reduce in size resulting in slimming of the face along the jawline.

The effects of BTX therapy are temporary but very effective, but it needs repeating at intervals to maintain the effect. It lasts, on average for 3-4 months, but this can vary between individuals. How long it lasts for depends on a number of factors, which include the size of the muscles, the amount of BTX used, frequency of treatment and the speed of neuromuscular repair.

Some clients may be less sensitive or ‘resistant’ to the effects of BTX, for reasons not fully understood. Athletes or very fit people also appear to metabolise BTX more quickly. In these cases, BTX will not work as well or for as long as would ordinarily be expected.

BTX is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you suffer from certain neurological conditions affecting the muscles, such as Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome. Please tell your treating doctor if you have any such conditions.

IThe effects of BTX start 2-7 days following treatment and are maximal from 2 weeks onwards.

There have been no reported long term side effects or health hazards related to the use of BTX to date.

There are, however, several well documented possible side effects that are temporary, if they occur at all. These include the following:

Temporary jawline or smile asymmetry

Bruising – at or near the injection site, this is more likely if taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories (e.g. Ibuprofen/Nurofen), Steroids, Vitamin E, Fish Oils, and some other medications. It settles within 7-10 days.

Slight weakness of the muscles injected into, but this is not usually evident with the masseters, as they are very strong muscles.