4 Ways Botox Can Help Your Mouth
You may know that cosmetic surgeons and spa technicians use a technique called Botox to improve people's looks. This substance, from a bacterium called clostridium botulinum, relaxes muscles, thus easing lines and wrinkles. You might not know, however, that dentists can put Botox to good use as well.
If you struggle with jaw tension, mouth soreness, or certain cosmetic issues that you'd like to change about your mouth, you owe it to yourself to learn more about Botox's many applications. Take a look at four ways a skilled dentist can help you improve your smile, both functionally and cosmetically, through Botox treatments.
1. Relief for Bruxism and TMJ
Many people suffer from unconscious tooth grinding and clenching, or bruxism. This habit may develop due to chronic stress, depression, anxiety, or dental alignment issues. Bruxism can lead to TMJ (also called TMD), which causes jaw pain and stiffness.
Bruxism can erode your dental health as well as your personal comfort. Constant clenching and grinding pressure can wear out tooth enamel, making your teeth vulnerable to decay and breakage. The pressure on your gums and tooth sockets can also aggravate periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss.
Botox can play a useful role in your dentist's recommended bruxism and TMJ treatment strategies. In addition to night guards or other devices to protect your teeth during sleep, injections of Botox can relax the jaw muscles just enough to discourage chronic grinding and clenching, thus relieving jaw pain, fatigue, and stiffness.
2. Adjustment to New Dentures
New dentures can prove uncomfortable for many dental patients, regardless of the skill of the dentist or the quality of the dental appliances. When you first receive dentures, the muscles in your mouth may reflexively rebel against these unfamiliar objects, making it harder for you to get used to them.
Botox injections can help during this initial transition period. Injections into the mouth can relax the muscles long enough to let your mouth grow accustomed to dentures and accept them as a natural feature. As a result, your dentures will stay in place more easily as you learn how to use them.
3. Non-Surgical Solution for Gummy Smiles
If you have always felt unhappy with the amount of gum you show every time you smile, you may have considered surgical procedures to remove excess gum tissue. However, while this technique works well on excess gum tissue, it won't help you if your gummy smile comes from tension in the upper lip that pulls the lip upward.
Botox can help you overcome a gummy smile this particular problem causes. Botox injections can relax the upper lip muscles and reduce the amount of gum tissue you display when you smile. That way, you have no need for either cosmetic gum surgery or permanent surgical alteration of the facial muscles.
4. Reduction of Mouth Wrinkles
The quality of your smile depends on more than just the health of your teeth or dental restorations. As you age, the skin around your mouth can lose some of its natural elasticity, making it more vulnerable to line and wrinkle formation. Changes in your dental structure can aggravate these lines and wrinkles.
If your mouth has developed new wrinkles or drooping corners in recent years, it may benefit from the muscular relaxation Botox injections trigger. You may find that this form of facial rejuvenation complements the other improvements in your smile implants or dentures create, effectively turning back the clock on your appearance.
Koehn Dentistry & Aesthetics proudly offers Botox treatment among its many services. If you'd like to learn more about Botox's suitability for your particular challenge, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
