Dental problems from bruxism include loss of tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, and flattened and/or cracked teeth. Bruxism patients who grind their teeth while sleeping and while awake often experience jaw clenching.

Hypertrophy, which occurs with the strengthening and thickening of the jaw muscles, is another side effect of bruxism.

Botulinum toxin is used in the treatment of external grinding with Botox.

Therapies commonly known as Botulinum Toxin Type A or botulinum toxin provides a very effective relief in the treatment of jaw pain, headaches and other unpleasant problems associated with bruxism. In addition to bruxism, botulinum toxin treatments also help soften the appearance of the jawline.

By injecting small doses of botulinum toxin directly into the masseter muscle (the large muscle that moves the jaw), the muscle is weakened as needed to stop the involuntary grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw. This significantly relaxes the muscles and reduces the wear and tear on the teeth due to grinding.

Damage that causes TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and headaches is reduced or eliminated. Voluntary movements such as chewing and facial expressions are definitely not affected by botox injection.

Although botulinum toxin injections are not a permanent cure for bruxism, they can provide the ability to effectively control the uncomfortable symptoms of nighttime teeth grinding for some patients.

The botulinum toxin used to treat bruxism typically takes three to four months. At the end of this period, the botox injection should be repeated by the experts.