Since 2002, when the FDA approved them for cosmetic use, Botox® injections have quickly become a household name and a powerhouse in the aesthetic world.
However, before Botox smoothed out its first wrinkle, researchers discovered it was effective against many health conditions, including eye twitching, migraines, overactive bladder, and severe underarm sweating.
And you can add to that list jaw pain.
At Rifkin Dental in Carmel and Yorktown Heights, New York, our expert dentists stop at nothing to help you dodge life’s most painful curveballs — even if the approach seems unconventional.
Here’s your ultimate guide to jaw pain and how Botox injections can help.
There are a few reasons why your jaw hurts, but temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are among the most common.
You have two temporomandibular joints, one on either side of your face, just in front of your ears. Your TMJ acts like a hinge, connecting your lower jawbone to your skull and facilitating movements like chewing and speaking.
TMJ disorders can stem from a wide range of issues, including genetics, arthritis, jaw injury, and long-term teeth grinding. Essentially, anything that irritates your TMJ can result in significant jaw pain, as well as:
The good news is that TMJ disorders are easy to treat, especially if you catch them early. Many mild cases respond well to self-care strategies and nonsurgical measures, like Botox injections.
Botox injections contain small amounts of a neurotoxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. While it may sound counterintuitive to purposefully inject your body with a known toxin, rest assured that we carefully measure and administer each injection, and you only receive a small amount of the toxin.
Once injected, the toxin has a temporarily paralytic effect that relaxes tense jaw muscles. With your muscles relaxed, you experience much less jaw pain and fewer headaches.
If your TMJ issues develop as a result of chronic grinding and clenching, the relaxing effect can help you kick your bad habit and avoid TMJ pain in the future.
Most of our patients experience jaw pain relief for up to three months after their injection. You can see us for maintenance visits once the effects start to wear off.
To maximize your Botox injections, you can try a few self-care strategies, such as:
Some of our patients seek professional counseling services to better understand the actors and behaviors that aggravate jaw pain and lead to more severe symptoms.
Ready to make jaw pain a thing of the past? We’d love to talk with you about your options, especially the ones you didn’t see coming. Schedule your jaw pain consultation online or over the phone today at our Rifkin Dental location closest to you.
