Bruxism and hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles

Botulinum toxin type A preparations are better known in our country as Botox and are firmly associated with getting rid of early wrinkles. But there are a number of inaccuracies here. Firstly, Botox is not a group of drugs or an active substance, but a trade name for a very specific drug, which, nevertheless, has become a household name, that is, it is used to refer to all similar drugs in general. And secondly, the range of tasks for such tools is much wider!

What are the advantages of botulinum therapy with Botulax in the treatment of bruxism?

Myorelaxation Complete relaxation of tight masticatory muscles and elimination of painful spasm.
Long-lasting effect After one procedure, the relaxing effect lasts for several months.
Quick relief from pain The drug begins to act immediately and gently relieves stress and discomfort.
Point effect The medicine is administered to strictly defined points and does not affect the functioning of other facial structures.
Getting rid of a bad habit You will quietly get out of the habit of clenching your jaw and aggravating the consequences of bruxism.
Maximum safety The drug does not cause addiction and is completely eliminated from the body.

There is a solution for each case!

1 procedure

1 Botulax procedure Gentle and safe effect For mild cases of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles RUB 15,000. 15,000 rub.
3 procedures

A course of 3 Botulax procedures Gentle and safe effects For moderate and severe stages of hypertonicity RUB 35,000. 35,000 rub.

Botulinum therapy can help if you have a habit of clenching your jaw tightly and grinding your teeth, you suffer from increased abrasion of enamel and destruction of crowns.

Symptoms of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles and bruxism

the chewing surfaces of the teeth become worn and flat (the cutting edges disappear),
tooth enamel chips, wedge-shaped defects appear, fillings fly out, teeth quickly decay, become loose, gums hurt,
you experience discomfort when opening your mouth, while eating or yawning - there are clicks, crunching sounds,
you or your loved ones notice that you are grinding your teeth - the characteristic grinding appears mainly at night (the so-called “night bruxism”), when it is difficult for a person to control himself during sleep,
cramps the jaw - you cannot fully open or close your mouth, the jaw seems to be blocked,
it is difficult for you to keep your mouth open for a long time, overexertion and pain appear during bruxism,
when talking or chewing, you feel that your facial muscles are “clogged”, tired,
when you are angry, tense or just working in concentration - your mouth is tightly closed, your lips are pursed, your teeth are closed, you are literally clenching your jaw,
there are problems with your bite – your teeth don’t fit together correctly, your jaws are misaligned relative to each other, causing you to bite your cheeks or tongue,
after concentrated work or under stress, you often have a pressing sensation in your temples, pain and dizziness,
you notice ringing and noise in your ears,
Over time, the lower half of your face has become visually square, heavy,
there are problems with posture - you are slouched, your lower back hurts, your neck is stiff, one shoulder is higher than the other.

If you find one or more signs in yourself, then this is a reason to consult a specialist for medical help. And the first step is a comprehensive diagnosis and search for the causes of hypertension.

We approach the treatment of bruxism comprehensively! We carry out in-depth diagnostics, find the exact cause of facial muscle spasm and eliminate it using advanced methods - safely and with high results.

Free consultation

About Botox

What it is? Botulinum toxin is a substance that relaxes muscles, preventing them from contracting. If it enters the body with food, it causes severe poisoning and death.

In cosmetology, safe doses of neurotoxin are used. The specialist injects the substance into strictly defined areas. After injections, a person cannot express emotions through facial expressions, because the muscles do not contract.

The effect of botulinum toxin lasts 6 months. During this time, bad facial habits disappear. If desired, the injections can be repeated.

Disadvantages of Botox:

Risk of complications. If you fall into the hands of an unscrupulous master, there is a risk of permanently ruining your appearance.
High price.

Whether to do Botox or not, everyone decides for themselves. But before you resort to a risky procedure, try how effective safe methods are.

The main causes of bruxism in adults and jaw strain

psycho-emotional reasons: nervous overstrain, prolonged stress, difficult experiences of situations,
dental reasons: prolonged absence of teeth, malocclusion, diseases of the temporomandibular joint, complete or almost complete absence of teeth, inconvenient and poorly made crowns and dentures, fillings that are too high, injuries to the dental system,
disorders of the musculoskeletal system: injuries and curvature of the spine, poor posture, asymmetry in the work of the core muscles,
neurological causes: epilepsy, birth trauma, brain and central nervous system damage,
other reasons: taking certain medications, smoking, abuse of caffeine-containing drinks.

“We always take a comprehensive approach to solving problems of hypertonicity of facial muscles. First of all, we look for causes from the maxillofacial apparatus - we carry out a full diagnosis and examination, evaluate the functioning of the masticatory muscles, identify the patient’s characteristic habits and collect a medical history. If necessary, we refer the patient to specialized specialists - a neurologist, psychotherapist, etc. It is very important to cure hypertonicity - at least so that the patient in the future can safely begin high-quality dental restoration: implantation, prosthetics or treatment.”

Aida Vladimirovna Jutova, implant surgeon, periodontist, work experience of more than 10 years make an appointment

Botulinum therapy as one of the methods for treating hypertension and bruxism

Botulinum toxin type A, which is used in medicine and cosmetology, is able to relieve spasms and relax overstrained muscles, specifically reducing their activity or immobilizing them completely. But not forever, but only for a certain period of time - during this time the body adapts to new circumstances and stops overstraining a certain area. That is, the therapeutic effect for a diagnosis such as “bruxism” lasts for a long time, which is confirmed by numerous reviews from patients.

How it works?

Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It blocks nerve impulses from the central nervous system to muscle fibers. That is, in fact, the drug paralyzes a certain muscle without transmitting motor commands from the brain to it.

In medicine and cosmetology, it is used in ultra-small and highly purified forms - that is, it is not poisonous or toxic to the body!

The drug is injected into clearly defined points in order to affect only a specific muscle and not affect the work of others. The dosages are harmless, and the blocking is reversible. Over time, the drug is completely eliminated from the body - usually this takes from 5 to 7 months. Gradually, neuromuscular conduction in the area is restored, and mobility returns to the muscle - but since it has “rested,” the spasmodic fibers are smoothed out, and the body adapts and normalizes the load.

Botulinum toxin only relieves hypertonicity and allows the muscle to relax. This is the basis of its well-known cosmetic effect - smoothing out wrinkles by blocking the work of facial muscles. That is, it is wrong to think that you can “pump yourself up” with botulinum toxin preparations - they do not in any way increase the volume of soft tissues.

To relieve excess tension in the masticatory muscles, we use the drug Botulax for intramuscular injection with 99% active substance content, thereby increasing the speed of onset and duration of the therapeutic effect. And thanks to the high degree of purification of the drug, the risk of adverse reactions is minimized. The dosage and course are selected by the doctor strictly individually!

How to train your jaw and head from being knocked out

There are several basic exercises you can use to train your head, neck, and jaw from knockouts. All of them are aimed at strengthening the muscular part of the face. Let's look at these exercises in more detail.

Exercise No. 1. Exercise with a towel

This is perhaps the most basic exercise that does not require any additional skills or equipment. To perform it, you need to have a towel on hand, and nothing more.

The essence of the exercise is that you need to take a towel and fold it several times. After this, it is thrown over the head and secured in the occipital region of the head. On the other hand, it is stretched by the hands, and under the action of the hands it is pulled down. At this time, using the efforts of the head and neck, it is necessary to straighten the heads, pulling the towel upward.

This exercise actively develops the muscles of the face and neck, and all this helps prevent knockouts. With active training, you can train your head well and have an impenetrable jaw.

Picture 1. Training with a towel

Exercise No. 2. Exercise with weights

This is a similar type of exercise, but is performed a little differently, and has as many as 3 types of execution. The main difference between this element and the exercise with a towel is that it is performed with a weight that is attached to the head. We don't need to pull anything with our hands. It is enough just to move your head a little forward and lower it. When you raise your head, the muscles overcome the resistance of the load itself and develop at an even greater speed.

There are 3 options for performing the exercise:

- first option: head extended straight, legs slightly wider than shoulder width. The exercise is performed directly in front of you;

- second option: lying on a bench, with your head extended behind the bench. The starting position is lying on your back. The head drops down and stretches under the influence of the load. You need to raise your head and then slowly lower it. It is strictly forbidden to perform sudden actions, as you can injure your neck;

Third option: lying on your side on a bench. It is performed in the same way as the second option, except for the position itself. The actions here are aimed at the sides of the neck and the cheekbone of the face.

Picture 2. Exercises with weights

Exercise No. 3. Bortsovsky Bridge

This exercise is very traumatic, so it must be done as carefully as possible. Initial stance - you need to stand on your feet, place your hands on the floor, and then move your head to the floor, near your hands. When the balance has settled, you should remove your hands and remain on one neck. The exercise involves straightening and bending your neck with slow and confident movements.

This exercise perfectly develops the neck muscles and strengthens the jaw. All this prevents the fighter from being knocked out by punches to the jaw.

Picture 3. Bortsovsky Bridge

Exercise No. 4. Resistance exercise

All of these previous exercises are great for developing the front muscles of the neck, cheekbones and jaw. But when it comes to the posterior muscles, they are all powerless. But the last, fourth exercise, which is based on the resistance of the ropes, is perfect here. Unfortunately, it can only be performed in gyms, or with special equipment at home.

The essence of its implementation is that you need to stand in a rigid stance and rest your head on one of the ropes. For softness, you can put a towel on the rope. You need to make a firm emphasis with your feet and push the rope with your head. But direct impact is not enough, so during the exercise it is necessary to change the position of the head, rolling it from side to side. Within a minute you can notice how the whole neck clings and how much load is placed on it.

Picture 4. Resistance exercise

Indications and contraindications for botulinum therapy of masticatory muscles

Indications

pain in the temporomandibular joint area,
limited mouth opening,
clicking, crunching, discomfort when moving the lower jaw,
pathological abrasion of enamel,
overstrain of the masticatory muscles, their soreness and heaviness,
preparation for implantation, classical prosthetics (especially veneers), orthodontic treatment.

Contraindications

pustular skin lesions, ulcers, acute infection in the area of the masticatory muscles,
viral and infectious diseases in the acute stage,
neuromuscular diseases (myasthenia gravis),
constant use of certain medications and antibiotics,
pregnancy and lactation period,
bleeding disorders,
diabetes,
allergic reactions to the components of the drug,
oncology and severe mental disorders.

Why do you need gymnastics for teeth?

You should only perform gymnastics after tooth extraction or do exercises to correct your bite if your doctor has recommended such a technique. Doing a gymnast yourself, especially in a situation where there are obvious problems with the gums and teeth, is dangerous.

Why is gymnastics needed? When executing it:

the bite is corrected;
gums and periodontium are massaged;
blood circulation in soft tissues increases, which has a positive effect on the condition of the oral cavity;
chewing and facial muscles develop;
orthodontic treatment is accelerated;
Jaw spasms are prevented.

Main stages of treatment

Step 1. Preparation for the procedure

A doctor, for example, an implant surgeon or an orthopedist, may refer you to the botulinum therapy procedure for comprehensive preparation before installing implants or dentures. But you can also contact your dentist yourself with complaints about the symptoms of dental bruxism. On the recommendation of a doctor, after consultation and diagnosis, you can begin the injection course.

No complicated preparation is required. 2-3 days before the procedure, it is advisable to eliminate alcohol and reduce the consumption of tea, coffee and energy drinks, as well as stop taking blood thinning medications and antibiotics.

Experienced doctors who follow safety precautions! Our specialists have undergone appropriate training, are certified and accurately calculate the dosage of the drug. We carry out treatment carefully, safely and with results!

Step 2. Administration of the drug

The procedure itself takes on average 20 minutes. The doctor conducts a follow-up examination and marks points for drug administration.

The doctor takes the ampoule out of the refrigerator and opens the disposable syringe with the medicine in front of you - this way you will make sure that the storage conditions and sterility of the drug are observed. How many units of Botox are needed for bruxism? The specialist will calculate the dose individually, based on the severity of the symptoms, and divide it into 3-4 parts - that is, you will be given several small injections in different areas of the muscle. For injections, disposable sterile syringes with thin needles are used, so the procedure is almost painless. But for greater comfort, the injection site can be numbed.

Step 3. Rehabilitation period

The drug begins to act immediately, but gains maximum strength gradually - over about 10-14 days, during which the spasmodic area completely relaxes. At this time, it is undesirable to overheat and overcool the problem area: that is, you will have to limit physical activity, trips to the bathhouse and sauna, as well as to the pool.

It is also important in the first days to touch your face as little as possible and not to steam or massage the injection sites.

The effect of the drug lasts up to 7 months, but may weaken faster depending on individual characteristics. Your doctor will tell you at your follow-up appointment whether you need a repeat course.

Symptoms and manifestations

Trismus of the masticatory muscles is accompanied by limited mobility of the joints responsible for closing the jaw. The inability to unclench them can be of a different nature - from partial to complete immobilization. The mouth may open 40, 20, or 10 mm or less, depending on the severity of the condition. Spasmodic contractions can worsen your overall health, cause headaches and other consequences.

One of the manifestations is inflammatory processes due to jamming of the jaws, in this case there is an alternating reduction of the sides of the face. Less commonly, trismus is associated with tumor processes, accompanied by a noticeable increase in formation and increased symptoms. With viral infections, elevated body temperature is often observed.

Disadvantages of treating bruxism with Botulax

It is important to choose an experienced, certified doctor who has trained and has official approval for botulinum toxin injection therapy - this is a rather complex procedure with its own subtleties. If the rules of storage, selection of dosage and administration technique are not followed, complications may occur. And if hematomas, bruises or slight swelling basically go away on their own, then difficulties with swallowing and chewing should be eliminated together with a doctor.

Our doctors have been trained and certified - treating hypertonicity with botulinum therapy in our clinic is completely safe

Ways to relax muscles and reduce expression lines

To look attractive and look in the mirror with pleasure, you need to help your face. There are several options that you can combine, or choose one that is most suitable for you.

Botox;
Working on emotions;
Meditation;
Gymnastics for the face;
Acupressure;
Self-massage of the face.

Each method has pros and cons that you need to pay attention to.

Why is botulinum therapy not enough to eliminate hypertension?

You need to understand that Botox treatment in dentistry, like orthopedic treatment of bruxism (that is, the manufacture of special protective mouth guards for teeth during bruxism), is only an additional, and not an independent method. Botulinum therapy protects against the consequences of muscle strain - that is, visible relief will actually occur after administration of the drug. The spasm will go away, the muscles will relax, you will stop involuntarily clenching your jaw and thereby injuring your teeth. But as soon as the effect of botulinum toxin wears off, the problem may return, albeit to a lesser extent.

Of course, if it was just a formed habit based on nervousness, and the causes of bruxism are psychosomatic or neurological, then during treatment you have a good chance to completely get rid of it. But if the source lies in other pathologies and disorders, then you also need to address them: take care of your posture, solve bite problems, restore damaged teeth, replace low-quality dentures, etc. And botulinum therapy will become an effective comprehensive measure.

Why does facial muscle tension occur?

Under the influence of stress and overwork, a person cannot completely relax. He seems to be calm, but his muscles remain toned. The face is tense, tight, and there is a feeling of muscle spasm. Frequent repetition of the situation leads to disruption of skin nutrition. Small expression wrinkles form, and the dermis becomes flabby and saggy. Skin color does not change for the better.

Common habits that affect the condition of the dermis:

Move your eyebrows, raise them up;
Wrinkle forehead;
Curl your lips;
Squint;
Sleep on one side;
Prop up your cheeks.

Dental problems can cause wrinkles: poor bite, missing teeth, chewing food on one side.

Why are mouthguards needed for bruxism?

Another additional way to treat hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles in adults is to wear a special protective mouth guard (they are also called a “mouth guard” or “bruxism trainer”). These are plastic and dense overlays for teeth, which are worn mainly at night, and in case of severe symptoms, worn during the day. They are made from hypoallergenic materials in a dental laboratory individually for the patient or at the factory, if we are talking about mass production.

But this is also an auxiliary measure - a mouth guard helps muscles relax, protects against tooth wear and the consequences of bruxism, but does not remove the cause of hypertonicity.

protection of enamel from cracks, chips, increased abrasion due to involuntary clenching of teeth,
protection of artificial crowns, dentures (including those on implants) or brace systems from damage,
relieving tension and pain in masticatory muscles and joints,
protection against movement and displacement of teeth due to constant pressure on them,
gradual return of the jaws and joints to the correct position in the event of their displacement (of course, only individual mouthguards for bruxism made by a doctor work this way).

Relaxing facial muscles with massage

The massage can be performed independently or with a cosmetologist. The effect of relaxation, rejuvenation, maintaining skin tone, for this it is worth learning facial massage. You can do the procedure at any time, the main thing is to cleanse the skin and apply cream. Facial massage techniques include:

Stroking;
Trituration;
Pat;
Tingling;
Pressure.

Considering the sensitivity of the skin, try to do the techniques gently, without using force. Move along the lines indicated in the figure. Start and end the massage with stroking.

Read on our website facesave.ru about the popular method of self-massage of the face by Elena Zemskova.

Choosing a sleep guard for bruxism: types and price

Firstly, there are universal and individual options: finished products are produced in factories using standard templates, and custom-made mouth guards are made exactly to your measurements.

Also, as we mentioned, mouthguards are not only night guards. The vast majority of patients suffer from teeth grinding during sleep, but a number of people cannot control jaw clenching during the day - for such cases, there are options for daytime overlays that are more invisible and do not affect pronunciation.

A mouthguard for teeth against bruxism, especially a night guard, can be bought at a pharmacy (either in Moscow or in any other city). It costs about two to three times less than a custom-made one. The quality depends on the manufacturer, and universal options have limitations in size and shape, so they simply may not fit the dentition. But the most important limitation, which patients often forget about, is that a ready-made onlay should be purchased on the recommendation of a dentist, and not self-medicated. Alas, without diagnosing and searching for the causes of spasm of the masticatory muscles, a ready-made mouth guard will do more harm than good.

Therefore, it is better if the mouth guard is made individually - based on a cast of your jaws. Individual mouthguards for bruxism, made for sleep, take into account anatomical features to the smallest detail and do not overload the teeth. And if you need to wear the veneer during the day, then it should match the shape of the teeth so that it is truly invisible when communicating. You can order such a mouthguard for bruxism in dentistry by contacting your doctor about this problem.

The doctor will also give recommendations on how long a day it is best to wear a mouth guard, how to care for it, and when the product should be replaced.

What happens if hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles is not treated?

The masseter muscle, which moves the lower jaw, is the most powerful in the group of facial muscles. By contracting, it is capable of creating a force of up to 80-100 kg (compare - in order to chew food efficiently, we use barely 10% of this force).

Chronic spasm and overstrain of such strong masticatory muscles creates excess pressure on the teeth, periodontal tissues and temporomandibular joints. From here, many unpleasant consequences for the jaw system and health in general develop along the chain:

abrasion of enamel and reduction in tooth height,
chips and cracks, various enamel defects,
frequent caries,
overload of periodontal tissues and the development of gum diseases - in particular, dangerous periodontitis,
failure of fillings, crowns and dentures,
threat to implants, the possibility of their overload and loosening,
swelling and inflammation of the masticatory muscles,
dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, pain and discomfort when chewing,
deterioration of blood circulation and tissue nutrition in the area of muscle spasm,
increased headaches, dizziness, noise and pain in the ears,
overstrain of the neck and back muscles, development of posture problems,
violation of facial aesthetics: angular jaw, deep wrinkles around the nose and lips, haggard face and reduction of the lower third.

Exercise with fists

Photo: AiF/Eduard Kudryavitsky
Starting position: fold your hands under your lower jaw, press your elbows to your chest. If you can't keep your back straight, lean against the back of a chair. Do not push your head forward, otherwise the exercise will be ineffective and there will be a risk of damaging the back of your neck. Press your tongue onto the upper palate, resisting with your hands, and hold for 1-2 seconds. Perform 25 times at a slow pace. Relieve tension with light pats under the chin.

Result: reduction of the double chin, tightened skin of the neck and lower face.

Is it possible to undergo implantation for bruxism?

Only on condition that an integrated approach is applied to implantation and subsequent installation of the prosthesis. In order for your new teeth to serve you for a long time, we carefully plan the entire course of treatment from start to finish: we conduct in-depth diagnostics, identify related problems that may affect the result, take measures to eliminate them, and step by step work through the entire course of the operation and prosthetics.

For example, our patients often experience bruxism and problems with the temporomandibular joints due to the fact that the dental system has not been working properly for a very long time - the teeth were destroyed, the load was distributed unevenly. In itself, the return of all teeth through complex implantation is already a treatment for such conditions, since we think over dentures taking into account the correct functioning of muscles and joints, normal closure of the dentition, etc. But the body will need time to adjust to normal functioning. And that is why in cases of bruxism we are taking additional measures - increasing the number of implants installed for the entire jaw, making prostheses reinforced with a frame and made from more durable materials, and making protective soft mouth guards.

But if bruxism in adults cannot be cured only by dental methods, since the problem is not with the jaw system, but with the same psychosomatics, then we refer the patient for treatment to a specialized specialist - and return to dental restoration afterwards. We care about your health and do everything to ensure that the achieved treatment results last not just for a couple of years, but throughout your entire life.

Prevention of bruxism: how to help yourself

By prevention we mean measures that prevent dental hypertonicity and bruxism in adults, because without finding the cause and monitoring a specialist, treating them at home is an unsafe activity, as with any disease. So if you notice alarming symptoms, your first step is to get diagnosed and get a plan to comprehensively eliminate this problem.

You may need the help of several specialists (neurologist, dentist, gastroenterologist, ENT doctor, psychotherapist), because bruxism occurs in different people for very different reasons. You may be prescribed courses of physiotherapy, taking certain medications (for example, magnesium supplements), but all this, of course, is very individual.

Self-help measures are helpful if you discuss them with your doctor. For example, you can do a light relaxing massage against bruxism in the area of the chin and temples. There are also a number of exercises that can help relieve muscle spasms; it is useful to repeat them regularly before bed. Relieve general stress: sleep enough hours, walk more in the fresh air, reduce the amount of coffee and strong tea, take relaxing baths with herbs, avoid anxious situations.

All this will help consolidate the results of complex professional treatment and forget about unpleasant symptoms.