Bruxism is the unconscious teeth grinding and clenching of the jaw, which can happen when the patient is awake, but unaware they are doing it, or asleep. Chronic bruxism can cause headaches, facial pain and serious dental problems, such as increased tooth sensitivity and chipping of the teeth.
One possible treatment for bruxism is injecting small doses of botulinum toxin directly into the muscles that move the jaw in order to relax them. Injecting botulinum toxin into the masseter muscle weakens the muscle enough to stop the involuntary movements, reducing in this way the painful symptoms and the damage caused to the teeth.
