Find out how botox can help with bruxism symptoms

On Tik Tok, videos of several people claiming that Masseter Botox applied to the jaw area have been the savior of their tired jaws, videos of this type have already reached more than 50 million views.

@jahszminn_4 Master botox for TMJ disorder but comes with a nice side effect of slimming the face lol #masseterbotox #masseterbotoxbeforeandafter ♬ original sound – jahszminn_

_{Photo: Tik Tok video about botox masseter (Playback/TikTok).}

How can botox fight stress?

A 2020 study found that stressed people have a 97% chance of developing bruxism, a condition in which a person grinds or clenches their teeth, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction), both of which result in the overwork of the masseter muscle, causing pain and discomfort in the jaw region and can extend to the entire face region and even cause headaches and earache.

In the society we live in, it is possible to consider that there are no more people who are not stressed, everyone is stressed at some level and when these levels are high it is common for the individual to start grinding his teeth several times a day and at night too, even sleeping, for example. that when waking up the feeling of tiredness and pain in the jaw appears.

To combat this, specialists thought of applying Botox, the generic name for any neuromodulatory substance, to the masseter muscle, immobilizing it, thus preventing teeth grinding and involuntary contraction, without harming chewing. It is important to emphasize that this procedure is not authorized by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the application of botox is authorized only in regions of the forehead, between the eyebrows, although its use is already common in several other regions of the face, such as around mouth and to treat hyperhidrosis.

How it works?

The specialist asks the patient to contract the mandible, clenching the teeth, when correctly locating the masseter, the botox applications begin, normally with 15 applications for each side, which may vary depending on the severity of the case, with time this muscle will atrophy and decrease in size, which visually slims the jaw. “When that happens, it gives almost instant relief from symptoms” and your jaw should feel more relaxed, says Dr Ash Soni, a London-based plastic surgeon.

The doctor explains that the chewing functions are not affected, as there are many other muscles involved in the process, the masseter is just one of them and the botulinum toxin dose applied is not high enough to completely eliminate the function of this muscle.

Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons require you to return after approximately two to four weeks to check progress and supplement if necessary. Unlike fillers, Botox takes a while to work, so it may take a week or two to see (and feel) full results.

As the technique is not yet approved by the FDA, there isn’t a lot of research on the subject, or on the long-term effects, although Dr. Soni states that one of the immediate side effects can occur when the toxin is injected too far forward into the muscle, “which can cause things like drooling and problems with the smile muscles”.

In all cases it is important to always consult a specialist doctor and verify the professional’s experience with this technique, most doctors do not recommend the application of botulinum toxin in the jaw only for aesthetic purposes, it is recommended to use it to treat the symptoms caused by the dysfunction TMJ or bruxism.

Featured Photo: model applying Botox to her jaw (Reproduction/Site realself.com).