How Masseter Botox Alleviates Jaw Pain from Bruxism

Are you tired of waking up every morning with jaw pain?

Millions suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), and most people never find proper relief with traditional treatments.

The good news…

Using Masseter Botox for bruxism is quickly becoming the most effective treatment available for managing jaw pain caused by teeth grinding.

It works by weakening the muscles that are causing all the damage!

In This Article

• What Is Masseter Botox?
• Why Does Bruxism Cause Jaw Pain?
• How Does Masseter Botox Work?
• How Long Do Results Last?
• Benefits of Masseter Botox for Bruxism
• Is Masseter Botox Treatment Right for You?
• Side Effects of Masseter Botox For Bruxism
• The Takeaway On Using Masseter Botox for Bruxism Treatment

What Is Masseter Botox?

Masseter Botox is Botulinum toxin injections injected directly into the masseter muscle.

The masseter muscle is primarily responsible for chewing and unfortunately also teeth grinding and clenching.

When you grind your teeth at night you’re putting significant strain on your masseter muscle which can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and damaged teeth.

Botox injections help by weakening the masseter muscle, reducing the strength of your teeth grinding.

How Does Bruxism Cause Jaw Pain?

Bruxism affects more people than you might think. A 2024 meta-analysis estimates the worldwide prevalence of bruxism at 22%.

Approximately 1 in 5 people will experience teeth grinding and clenching.

And here’s the problem…

The masseter is one of the strongest muscles in the human body. It produces a lot of pressure with each contraction.

When something as strong as the masseter continuously grinds down on your teeth and jaw every night it’s no wonder you wake up with pain.

While mouth guards and oral splints help protect teeth from the forces of grinding, they do nothing to stop the muscles from continuing to contract.

That’s why treating bruxism by relaxing the masseter muscle using Botox has been such a game changer for so many people.

How Does Masseter Botox Work?

Botox, otherwise known as botulinum toxin type A, has been around for years.

While most people know botox from cosmetic applications like eliminating wrinkles and fine lines; however, it also has medical uses as well.

To treat bruxism, botox is injected directly into the masseter muscle on both sides of your jaw.

Once injected into the muscle, it blocks nerve signals that signal the muscle to contract.

Your jaw won’t feel weaker or loose. You’ll still be able to chew food and speak normally.

The strength of your muscle contractions will be weakened.

With weaker contractions, you’ll grind less forcefully which alleviates a lot of the pain you’re feeling.

One systematic review concluded Botox injections decreased pain levels from 7.1 all the way down to 0.2 at 6 months!

Results aren’t instantaneous though. They can take a little time to kick in.

How Long Do Results Last?

Just like any other Botox injection treatment, you’ll have to be patient.

Results can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to show.

Most people will start to notice a reduction in jaw pain and muscle tension within that time frame.

Between 4-6 weeks is when you’ll start to feel the maximum benefits of your injection treatment.

Keep in mind, results are not permanent.

The effects of Botox will slowly start to wear off after about three months.

For most patients, I recommend shooting every 3-6 months to maintain your results.

For some people, bruxism can actually improve over time with repeated botox injections. Your muscles “remember” to relax.

What Benefits Can I Expect?

There are many benefits of using Masseter Botox to treat your bruxism.

Reduces Pain. Arguably the biggest benefit of Masseter Botox is the pain relief you’re likely to experience.

You’ll feel dramatic reductions in pain not only in your jaw but also your face.

Because you’ll be grinding your teeth less forcefully you’ll feel less pain.

Protects Teeth. Another benefit of Masseter Botox is that you’ll grind your teeth less intensely.

This means you’re less likely to experience damage to your teeth and previously repaired dental work.

Sleep Better. Many patients report being able to sleep better at night after receiving Masseter Botox treatment.

Tight muscles can make it difficult to relax and rest, but once those muscles are relaxed you should find yourself sleeping better.

Slim Jawline. As we mentioned above, Masseter Botox will actually help reduce the size of your masseter muscle.

If you have a square jawline you may find that your jaw becomes more defined as the masseter muscle weakens.

Quick Procedure. The actual injection process takes about 15-20 minutes and is done in-office.

There is no downtime and you walk out the door after your appointment is complete.

Is Masseter Botox Treatment Right For You?

While masseter Botox could be the solution to your problems, it’s not for everyone.

If you’ve been using oral guards and haven’t felt relief from your pain then Masseter Botox might be right for you.

Typically if you’ve already tried other methods without success then Botox can be a great option.

You should consider getting Masseter Botox injections if you:

• Wake up with jaw pain or headaches.
• Have noticed your jaw becoming more square or defined.
• Are tired of getting damaged teeth from grinding.

It’s probably not a good idea if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Have been diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder.
• Are allergic to botox.

As with any medical procedure, you should consult with the doctor before getting any injections.

They will examine your muscles and help determine how many units you need to achieve the best results.

Side Effects of Masseter Botox For Bruxism

Botox isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.

As with most procedures, there are always potential side effects.

Common Side Effects

Patients who receive botox injections commonly experience mild bruising in the area.

You may also experience some discomfort when the needles are inserted but this is normal.

You may even appear lopsided for a few days after your treatment.

Your doctor will make sure to give you equal injections on both sides of your face.

Rare Side Effects

Again, these side effects are rare.

Some patients have reported slight difficulty chewing meat.

Your bite may feel a little off as well as your smile.

These side effects should disappear within a few days.

You can reduce the chance of side effects by working with an experienced injector.

The Takeaway On Masseter Botox for Bruxism Treatment

Masseter Botox for Bruxism has become very popular for good reason.

If you’ve been suffering from jaw pain and headaches from grinding your teeth at night there might be a solution.

Masseter Botox works by directly relaxing your jaw muscle to prevent you from grinding your teeth as forcefully.

Remember:

• Bruxism affects roughly 22% of people all over the world.
• Masseter Botox takes about 1-2 weeks to kick in.
• Pain relief and results can last between 3-4 months.
• Masseter Botox has been proven to provide pain relief.