Bruxism & Teeth Grinding
When your jaw works against you.
Bruxism is the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth — most commonly during sleep, though it can happen during waking hours too. Many people are unaware they do it until a dentist flags the evidence of wear, or until the symptoms become hard to ignore: persistent jaw ache, morning headaches, earache, facial tension, or a feeling of tightness across the lower face.
Left untreated, bruxism places significant and cumulative strain on the jaw muscles, the temporomandibular joint and the teeth themselves. Dental wear is often irreversible. The discomfort it causes can be genuinely debilitating — particularly for those who wake with jaw pain or headaches on a daily basis.
A secondary effect worth noting: chronic clenching causes the masseter muscles to enlarge over time. This can gradually alter the shape of the lower face, creating a squarer, heavier jaw — a concern some bruxism patients bring alongside the functional one.
Treatments to consider.
Botulinum toxin injected into the masseter muscles reduces the force those muscles can generate, significantly easing the pressure of grinding and clenching without affecting normal chewing or speech. Relief from jaw tension and associated headaches is often felt within two to three weeks of treatment, with full effect at six to eight weeks. Treatment typically lasts six to twelve months.
This is the same treatment used for cosmetic jaw slimming — for bruxism patients, the reduction in muscle bulk is a welcome side effect rather than the primary goal.
Treatments that may help: Anti-Wrinkle Injections (Masseter).
Not sure where to start?
Book a consultation with our clinical team, or explore our full range of treatments.