It may not seem like a big problem to some, but if you’ve experienced it yourself you’ll know just how painful, irritating and even damaging it can be. From short-term symptoms such as headaches, jaw ache, neck pain and tiredness, to long-term complications such as jaw misalignment, damaged enamel and even broken or lost teeth.
But the great news is that you don’t just have to put up with it. Whilst there is no specific cure for bruxism, there are things we can do to help reduce it and manage the consequences of the disorder.
Using a combination of injectable muscle relaxants and/or dental treatments we can help to relax your jaw and reduce your clenching and grinding.
Each treatment plan differs depending on several factors such as whether you suffer from day or night bruxism, how extreme the grinding is, but for most people a combination of Botox, dental work and a night guard can have a big impact and reduce your suffering significantly.
Over the last decade Botox has been used to successfully reduce the symptoms of bruxism by relaxing the jaw muscles, preventing excessive clenching and removing some of the pain you are experiencing. The treatment is administered intramuscularly and can last up to 3-4 months.
Dental work may be required to repair any damage resulting from the grinding and prevent the pain that can be caused by worn down, cracked or broken teeth.
In the cases of night bruxism a night guard can be used to separate the jaw and stop the teeth from grinding whilst you sleep. This can help you to sleep better and protect your teeth from further damage.
So, if your bruxism is getting you down, don’t suffer in silence. Get in touch with FACEMED today and our unique dental and medical team will help you, just as we did for the patient below (Left – Before, Right – After).
