Botox and Xeomin for Tmj

Do you have sore facial muscles or jaw joints? Botox or Xeomin can help!

Aren’t Botox and Xeomin used to help smooth out wrinkles in your face? That is true. They are used for cosmetic purposes, but they also help with medical and dental conditions. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, and clenching can be caused by many things. Stress at work, anxiety, anger, frustration, or tension throughout the day can lead you to clench your jaw without you even noticing. If you are grinding or clenching in your sleep, it is probably paired with another sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea. Many of us are not even aware we are grinding or clenching at night until we are either told by someone who sleeps next to us or we notice the symptoms that come along with it.

You may start to have a popping or clicking sound that occurs when you open and close your mouth. Other symptoms include headaches, pain to the touch when you touch the muscles in your face, and damaged teeth. Damaged teeth usually have signs of flattening to the biting surfaces or they become chipped.

For most people, grinding and clenching of your teeth does not lead to many symptoms and can be monitored and controlled by simply wearing a nightguard to protect your teeth. For others, it can cause extreme discomfort leading to migraines and discomfort when chewing. To help give relief to these symptoms, Botox or Xeomin can be injected into the muscles that control the clenching and grinding motion of your jaw.

So, how do Botox and Xeomin work?

When injected into a muscle, they can temporarily reduce underlying muscle activity reducing the strength at which jaw muscles can clench and grind. This effect usually starts working within 2 to 14 days and lasts 3-6 months depending on how quickly your body metabolizes the product. After multiple injections, some patients even notice a slimming effect on their face, as well.

Interested in possible treatment with Botox or Xeomin? Give us a call!