Grinding (bruxism)

We always start with the simplest and least invasive treatment first.

We can give you instructions for jaw exercises that may help to alleviate any painful symptoms.

We can take a scan of your mouth and make a custom-made night guard. These can be made with either hard or soft material, depending on your needs. They can either be made for the upper or lower teeth. These mouthguards will help protect your teeth from damage and wear and manage your grinding habit.

We can administer a muscle relaxant into each side of the jaw. This is the same medication that’s used to relax muscles on the forehead and around the eyes. This is a safe and effective treatment to relax the jaw muscles and prevent bruxism. The effects are normally felt a few days after treatment and can last up to 3-4 months. Each time the treatment is done, the bruxism lessens.

This can also result in ‘jaw slimming’ as the muscles reduce in size, slimming the face. However, do not be confused with ‘jaw slimming’ treatment, as often these treatments are not performed in the same way and don’t penetrate deep enough into the muscles to stop the tooth grinding.

We can also offer dental laser treatment to relax the muscles. This works well after dental treatment when you’ve had to keep your mouth open for an extended period of time. We use the laser externally on the joint after treatment. The heat from the laser relaxes the joint muscle and prevents it from going ‘stiff’ or ‘locking’.

If you suffer from TMD, ask your dentist about the option of laser treatment after your dental treatment to prevent jaw pain afterwards.