Can Botox Help in the Treatment of Bruxism?

For most people, Botox is associated with the world of cosmetic services, and partially this is true: Botox injections are very popular for hiding the symptoms of aging and smoothing wrinkles. However, its use is not limited to the field of aesthetic cosmetology.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a derivative of the bacterium Clostridium difficile. In large doses, it is a strong poison that adversely affects the health of the body, but with proper use, it can be used quite successfully, including in the treatment of certain diseases of the nervous system.

One of the main results of Botox use is muscle paralysis, which is what provides the smoothing effect so beloved by cosmetologists. This property of botulinum toxin attracted specialists who are engaged in the study and treatment of bruxism.

What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the clenching and grinding of teeth during sleep. This is not just an annoying phenomenon, it exerts tremendous pressure on the biting surfaces of teeth, which can lead to jaw pain and teeth damage, as well as the surrounding bone, gums, and jaw joint.

What Causes Bruxism?
The reason for gnashing and gritting of teeth can be a reaction to stress. There are many effective approaches and techniques for reducing stress, or your doctor can recommend medications to temporarily reduce stress. Medicines can also be prescribed to alleviate pain and sensitivity.

An abnormal bite, gaps between teeth, or worn teeth can also lead to clenching and teeth grinding. Orthodontic brackets, crowns, bridges, or dental restorations can correct your bite and eliminate the effect of clenching and gnashing of teeth.

Without treatment, constant clenching and grinding of teeth can lead to extensive damage to your mouth. Eliminating this problem in its early stages will help restore harmony and prevent many problems in the future.

Botox in Bruxism Treatment
For research, cosmetic dentists selected twenty-two people who suffer from bruxism. All participants underwent a comprehensive study and spent the night in a special laboratory, where doctors observed the manifestations of bruxism and evaluated the work of the masticatory muscles. Next, thirteen people received botox injections in the chewing muscles, and the remaining nine received a placebo.

Within two months, experts monitored changes in the condition of the test subjects, as well as interviewed them personally. It turned out that people who received Botox injections noted an improvement in their condition and a decrease in discomfort. Another group of people (with placebo) did not notice any positive changes.

Experts said that botulinum toxin actually reduces the negative manifestations of bruxism, in particular, reduces the number of involuntary muscle contractions and pain. Despite such positive conclusions, the long-term results of the use of Botox and drugs based on it have not yet been identified, so experts have expressed restrained optimism for the potential use of Botox in treating bruxism.

Other Treatment Methods
You can use a bite splint that covers the surface of the teeth and reduces night-time gritting. These mouth guards are individually adapted and, depending on the severity of bruxism, can be made of hard or soft material. Therapy with the help of special devices can be used to control the manifestations of bruxism during sleep, but it can cause caries if the necessary oral hygiene is not observed.

Patient education, improving the quality of life and the order of daily worries are the most difficult methods of treatment, but on the other hand - the most effective. Daily relaxation can help you feel better and get rid of bruxism without special devices and medicines.

Effective drugs for bruxism are benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants. Benzodiazepines are a group of psychoactive drugs that affect the neurotransmission in the brain and suppress the central nervous system. As a result, they have a sedative effect, help you sleep, relax muscles and relieve stress and anxiety. They are especially useful when bruxism is caused by alcohol or drug addiction.