BOTOX is a treatment that most people are aware of, but may not fully understand what it can do. You might be aware of how BOTOX can be used in an aesthetic context, used on the facial muscles to reduce wrinkling.
However, there are some incredible health benefits that can come from BOTOX if used properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. If you’re curious, here’s what you should know about this treatment and what it may be able to do for you.
What Is BOTOX?
First of all, it may be important to learn a little bit about what BOTOX actually is. As you may know, it’s synthesized from the Botulinum toxin so that it can be safely used in a medical context. This substance is a paralytic, used to selectively paralyze certain muscles that it’s injected into. It sounds a bit strange, but this can be a useful tool in several different contexts; paralyzing select muscles in the face, for example, can reduce the formation of wrinkles in the face.
The Health Benefits of BOTOX
Moreover, there are fascinating ways in which BOTOX can be used to address certain health conditions, especially in a dental context. For example:
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD)
The temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, connect the jaw to the rest of the face. These small joints can occasionally become misaligned for any of a few reasons, causing clicking when you open your mouth and chronic jaw pain. BOTOX can be used to relax the muscles in the face, ameliorating some of the key symptoms of TMJ Disorder
Bruxism
If you’ve ever woken up with your teeth clenched and your jaw sore, you could potentially be grinding your teeth at night. This is known as nighttime bruxism, and over time it can contribute to the erosion of your teeth. Bruxism is a habit that can be hard to break on your own, not the least because it often happens while you’re asleep. BOTOX can be used to stop the muscles in the face from tightening, stopping you from clenching your jaw at night.
Tension-Type Headaches
In some circumstances, people develop chronic headaches for what appears to be no reason, or associated with increased stress. This can happen due to the tightening of muscles in the face, which can happen when you’re tense or due to underlying issues like TMJD. By paralyzing certain muscles, BOTOX can reduce the frequency and intensity of these headaches.
About Our Practice
At Nob Hill Oral & Facial Surgery of Albequerque, the care that we provide to our patients makes us stand out from our peers. We have two oral surgeons on staff with decades of combined experience, and both their passion and expertise allow them to offer a level of oral healthcare that you aren’t going to be able to find anywhere else.
If you have any questions about BOTOX, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (505) 881-7373.