Bruxism

[Gemma200]

Just wondered if anybody else suffers from this? I’ve been clenching my jaw at bedtime for nearly 2 years now and have lost a tooth because of this. I’ve had braces to try and align my bite better and to close the gap from the missing tooth, Have a custom made night guard, tried hypnotherapy, muscle relaxants from the doctors and just recently had masseter Botox. I’m currently on day 12 after Botox and my jaw is feeling a lot more relaxed but doesn’t seem like a long term solution. Has anybody stopped doing this and how did you do it?

Following as I have this problem but no solution as yet! Sorry to hear you lost a tooth!

I also do this!

Lost 2 teeth during lockdown and also wear a guard every night.

I just had Botox too and think it could be a long term solution for me.

Following with interest!

I’ve lost a tooth too because of this.
I wear a hard splint now. I’m tempted to try Botox so am interested to know how that goes. I find massage and stretching helps relax my jaw so less inclined to clench.

I have this too. It's awful. I have neck and shoulder pain all day from the night time clenching.

Why is Botox not a long term solution? I've been having it for jaw clenching for two or three years and have no plans to stop.

It really helps. I also have a night guard but found the botox makes the biggest difference.

Where do you go for Botox? Do you need a specialist?

I’d heard it can cause bone loss in the jaw? And also I’m not sure how many rounds the nhs will fund I don’t think I could afford it otherwise. I was panicking after a week because there was no difference but like I said day 12 and I can feel there’s no tension in my jaw. I think I might try acupuncture has anybody tried that? This has honestly taken over my life.

I've been doing masseter botox for nearly four years now (just had to check - can't believe it's been that long!).

I feel like it took the first couple of times for the botox to fully break through and it's been plain sailing ever since and the time in between getting longer. For example at the beginning it felt completely worn off by four months. Now can go to six months comfortably. Did eight months between the last ones because of lockdown and it was fine.

I know you haven't asked this but if your jaw doesn't feel completely relaxed yet, go for the free top up in a week or so (although did you say it was NHS so that may not be an option...). It took a while to get the dosage right and you should feel no tension at all with the right dose.

Re. The bone density - I've read about that but can't say I've noticed anything detrimental...yet (nor done an x-ray ).

All in all I am treating it as a long-term solution but yes the thought of doing it for rest of my life does seem a little perturbing. Very expensive at £300 per treatment so I just put by £50 in a pot for it so it doesn't feel quite so painful.

Following and interested re Botox!

Just jumping on to say that I also suffer..and have lost 2 teeth 😩.
Botox is not feasible for me cost wise.

I wear a hard mouthguard and pray every morning that I won't have broken a tooth or killed a nerve 😢

I have this problem. I've tried mouth guards and they don't help me much. About to try another and hoo for the best. How do you get referred for bktix on the NHS? Does a dentist do it or your gp?

Hope botox 🤦

Hi it was my gp who referred me to the hospital after months of ampitriptiline which didn’t work and then baclofen which also didn’t do much. It’s an awful and expensive problem to have and there’s not much help online I think more research needs to be done.

Is anyone else struggling to eat because of it? I've been on a soft diet for over a year now. During bad flares I revert to a liquid diet.

I’m just currently finishing Invisalign treatment to correct the years of damage done by teeth grinding. I’ve caused and lost copious amounts of fillings and teeth. Grinding eventually chipped my two front teeth and have finally had them fixed with composite. I’m wearing a retainer at the moment but will need a night guard eventually so I don’t undo all that hard work within a matter of weeks was really looking into Botox but not sure I have the funds to maintain that.

My dentist told me this week that bruxism is very likely to be the cause of my headaches neck and shoulder pain that started 2 years ago.
The constant pain Is awful and I can't focus or concentrate.
My GP sent me for a brain scan and referred me for a sleep study because of the headaches , put me on fluoxetine to see if that would help then increased the dose because it didn't. He has also just changed my HRT to see if it's that. And gave me a steroid shot in my shoulder for the pain.
And it all turns out to be teeth grinding!!!
The dentist has said I need a bite guard and possibly Botox but can't fit me in for another 3 months.
I've had enough, this affects my life so badly

I’ve had it most of my life and lost more than a few teeth from this!

Botox didn’t work for me. Hypnotherapy was the best treatment for me but I can’t go regularly enough. I’ve had the chiropractor work on my back, neck and shoulder pain but it doesn’t cure it. Also wear a mouth guard.

I now take amitriptyline which helps a bit .

Wish I could find a proper cure.

I've had endless problems because of it. My bite is awful, teeth all misaligned and I get migraines, jaw & face pain, headaches. My dentist has only ever suggested a mouth guard but for some reason they make me want to bite down more but I now need to one to protect my teeth as they've gone all worn and sharp

It's awful to hear about what everyone is going through...but I do take a small amount of comfort in knowing that I'm not alone 😔
This is a horrible condition to have- painful, stressful and incredibly expensive.

@InterstellarOverdrive my experience sounds identical to yours. It was reasonably under control until I lost a third tooth 2 years ago. Since then my teeth just feel wrong. The don't fit together anymore, and just clatter around with no sense of comfort. I get aches and pains all over.

The worst bit is that I take incredibly good care of my teeth. No decay, I am absolutely methodical about cleaning, maintenance check ups etc.

Yet I have the shittest teeth of anyone I know 😩

I would love a long-term solution for this too. I have seen an osteopath which has helped my neck/jaw/tension headaches but as long as I keep clenching my jaw it's never going to get any better. I have a soft nightguard that at least protects my teeth. Haven't dared try botox yet.

I’m so glad I posted on here. While I’m sorry everybody is suffering at least I don’t feel so alone! I’ve spent hours trawling the internet and there’s very little around on this subject. For those who have this and haven’t tried Botox please do it’s been an absolute godsend! I’m still clenching at night (I know this because when I wake I’m doing it) but I don’t think it can be with as much force as my teeth aren't hurting and my jaw feels normal during the day no tension whatsoever.

I've just spoken to the dentist about Botox for bruxism but I'd have to go private.
After 2 years of daily headaches which gave now also migrated to my neck and shoulders , face pain and being unable to concentrate. Focus or sleep properly. I'm thinking this will be money well spent

@StarCourt did you try the botox? X

Hi @Starrr123 yes I did and it def helped. I'm going to have it done again