Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding or teeth clenching, involves excessive grinding of the teeth, usually without the person realizing they are doing it. It is estimated that bruxism affects around 10 percent of adults in the United States. Teeth grinding occurs during the night in most cases. But it can also occur during the day.
Bruxism treatment is complicated since there are a lot of causes for this condition: anxiety and stress, misalignment of teeth, antidepressants, some drugs (as ecstasy), smoking, sleep disorders, and neurological conditions (see Parkinson’s disease). Some may also consider genetic causes here, but it has not been demonstrated yet.
There are some symptoms experienced by grinders: muscular pain around the jaw, headaches, ear pain, disrupted sleep, broken fillings or crowns, and cracked teeth. Bruxism destroys the outer layer of enamel of the teeth, which will lead to tooth sensitivity.
The best solution for bruxism seems to be wearing a mouth guard at night. Other solutions may be the use of fluoride gels or orthodontic treatment (in case the cause of bruxism is the misalignment).
Some patients have experienced improvement after having botulinum toxin injected into the chewing muscles. Botox reduces muscular strength, which decreases the damage caused by clenching teeth. It is a new technique, and this is why new studies are requested in order to demonstrate that Botox really helps in bruxism.
Botox is a substance injected into the skin that blocks the signals that tell muscles to contract. It can prevent wrinkles from developing or worsening. So botulinum toxin is used both medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles.
Injecting Botox into the masseter muscle can reduce the force of your bite because the muscle becomes temporarily weakened. In some cases, Botox is also injected into the temporalis muscle, which extends from the forehead to behind the ear and also plays a major role in chewing and jaw function.
A review published in the International Dental Journal in 2012 suggested that Botox for TMJ and teeth grinding may help reduce symptoms such as headaches and ear pain, with some patients experiencing relief comparable to using a nightguard. However, research has also raised concerns about the long term effects of Botox on jaw health and bone density.
Studies evaluating Botox injections in the jaw muscles found evidence that reducing muscle activity may contribute to decreased bone density in the jaw over time. Because bone strength is maintained through regular chewing and biting forces, weakening the masseter and temporalis muscles can reduce the stimulation needed for healthy bone remodeling. Some researchers suggest that prolonged reduction in jaw muscle function could potentially increase the risk of jaw bone loss and contribute to future dental complications, including tooth instability or tooth loss.
Researchers from Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas tested Botox on 22 people diagnosed with bruxism and noticed improvements in all the symptoms experienced by grinders. But despite these positive things, we shouldn’t forget about bone loss.
To conclude this, Botox injections are an experimental treatment for grinders. Your dentist may recommend Botox as a treatment for your bruxism. You may experience some positive results (no more headaches, ear pain, enamel loss), but do not forget to take into account the bone loss. And wearing a night guard is not such a bad solution anyway. For questions or dental issues, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Arhiri.
References:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1163679/How-stop-teeth-grinding---little-help-Botox.html
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/botox-ease-teeth-grinding-no-8295493
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3616789/Botox-jabs-stop-teeth-grinding-eat-away-jawbone.html
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/bruxism/teeth-grinding-how-to-stop-grinding-your-teeth-at-night-0214
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/teeth-grinding-bruxism#1
https://www.dentaly.org/uk/teeth-grinding-bruxism/