Botox® in Essex for Teeth Grinding (also known as Bruxism)

Botox® in Essex for Teeth Grinding (also known as Bruxism)

Bruxism is a medical term that describes the act of grinding the teeth and clenching the jaw. Regular and persistent grinding of the teeth can result in an ache in the jaw, headaches, earache and can also contribute to the wearing down and breaking of the teeth.

When does Bruxism occur?

Most cases of Bruxism occur subconsciously during sleep. It is usually associated with contributing factors, such as stress or anxiety. Bruxism is classified into ‘awake bruxism’ and ‘sleep bruxism’.

Awake bruxism is characterised by involuntary clenching of the teeth and jaw bracing in reaction to certain stimuli. There is generally no tooth grinding with awake bruxism.

Sleep bruxism is characterised by automatic teeth grinding with rhythmic and sustained jaw muscle contractions.

What are the affects of Bruxism?

Bruxism affects sufferers in many ways. Some of the adverse effects are short-term and disappear when the bruxism ceases. Others sadly are long-term and sometimes permanent. Bruxism sufferers are three times more likely to suffer from headaches; they can also suffer with aching of the jaw and facial muscles, also known as facial myalgia. Bruxism suffers commonly have a disrupted sleep and if they have a partner the noise they make during ‘sleep bruxism’ can keep them awake too.

Common treatments for Bruxism range from sleeping with an uncomfortable mouth guard in to muscle relaxation exercises. Neither are often found to be effective.

How Botox for Bruxism can help you.

Now with Botox injections, our experienced doctors can relax the muscles of the face involved with grinding and relieve the symptoms including the wearing down of the teeth and fillings. At Woodford Medical we have over a decade of experience in using Botox for the treatment of Bruxism.