If your jaw feels tired when you wake, there is pressure at your temples, and headaches join the picture from time to time, the likely cause is clenching through the night without knowing it. Bruxism is a habit most patients never notice in themselves — but the traces it leaves in the mouth are quite clear.
What it wears down
Enamel is the first casualty. Incisal edges flatten, filling margins chip repeatedly, and notches appear at the necks of the teeth. In patients with veneers or crowns, clenching directly shortens the life of the restoration.
The damage is not confined to teeth. The masseter is among the strongest muscles in the body, and contracting through the night loads the jaw joint, the temporal region and the neck muscles. A morning headache is often the result.
What masseter botox does
Botulinum toxin lowers the maximum force the muscle can generate. Chewing and speech are unaffected — you eat normally and your speech does not change. The only thing that changes is the muscle’s capacity for excessive contraction.
Treatment takes ten minutes and needs no anaesthetic. The effect begins between days three and seven, settles fully at two weeks, and lasts three to six months. Over time the bulk of the masseter also reduces, which is a bonus for patients bothered by a square jawline.
Together with a night guard
Botox reduces force but does not abolish the habit. So in most cases we plan it alongside a night guard: the guard protects the teeth physically, the injection lowers the force. They do different jobs, and one does not replace the other.
It matters that the guard is custom-made and in hard acrylic. Soft guards bought over the counter increase clenching in some patients — the chewing reflex responds more, not less, to a soft surface.
If you suspect you clench, simply mention it at your examination; the signs are easy to see. Assessment and consultation are free.
