Can Botox Help TMJ Disorder?

You’ve probably heard about Botox injections before. Many people use Botox to enhance their facial features like their lips and cheeks and to smooth out lines around the eyes and forehead. You might even be familiar with Botox injections as a treatment for headaches, but did you know that Botox can also provide relief from TMJ pain?

If you’ve suffered from temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorder, you know that it can be difficult to find relief from pain. TMJ disorder impacts your jaw joint and muscles around the face, but the pain that you feel can extend far beyond your mouth and teeth and can negatively impact your day-to-day life. From chronic headaches and earaches to pain while chewing and more, there are many symptoms that come with TMJ disorder that can often go undiagnosed for years. 

That’s where we come in. At Colorado Skin and Vein, we can help assess your TMJ pain and get you relief from your pain fast with Botox for TMJ. Let’s go over how Botox can help you. 

What is TMJ?

TMJ, which is also often referred to as TMD, happens when the temporomandibular joint becomes irritated, stressed, displaced, or swollen. The TMJ is on both sides of your jaw, and the muscle acts as a hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull. To feel your TMJ in action, place two fingers on your jaw, right in front of your ear. Then open and close your jaw several times. You can feel the TMJ moving when you talk, yawn, eat… anytime you open and close your mouth. 

What are the Symptoms of TMJ?

The symptoms of TMJ are: 

• Pain while chewing
• Pain that spreads from the face to the neck
• Jaw stiffness
• A shift in the way that your upper and lower teeth fit together
• Ringing in the ears (also called tinnitus) 
• Clicking popping noises when you open and close your jaw
• Locking of the jaw

TMJ ear pain, headaches, and neck and shoulder aches are also very common due to stressed and overworked muscles. 

What Causes TMJ?

There are several causes of TMJ, however, TMJ can also occur without a clear cause. TMJ injury, excessive strain on the muscles from aggressive chewing or eating hard-to-chew foods, teeth grinding, also called bruxism, stress that leads to muscle overuse and lockjaw, and a combination of genes and lifestyle can all play a part in what causes TMJ. 

How Can I Treat TMJ?

TMJ pain can be managed with: 

• Over the counter NSAIDS
• Prescription medications that help with stress and anxiety 
• Eating softer foods
• Reducing habits like chewing gum and jaw clenching
• Physical therapy

Botox for TMJ

How Does Botox for TMJ Help?

Botox works by temporarily freezing the nerve cell signals that tell your muscles to contract, which is how you end up with a smooth forehead and no more ‘11 lines’ between your eyes. When the injections are administered into the temporalis and masseter muscles, the nerve cell signals around the TMJ are frozen, which allows them to relax, unclench, and release. You’ll still be able to open and close your mouth to eat, speak, etc., but the muscles in your face will no longer be working in overdrive. 

How Fast Will I Feel Relief?

You’ll likely start feeling relief within 24 hours of your Botox for TMJ injections, with the full effect achieved 14 days later. After receiving injections, you’ll need to remain upright for several hours afterwards and should avoid touching or rubbing the injection site. If you experience discomfort at site of injection, you can use an icepack to help alleviate pain. 

How Long Does Botox for TMJ Last?

Botox is metabolized by our lymphatic symptoms, so injections will need to be repeated around every three months. 

What is the Botox for TMJ Cost?

Botox is charged per unit, and the cost per unit ranges depending on where you have your injections done. At Colorado Skin and Vein, we offer competitive pricing at $12.45 per unit. 

If you’re looking for relief from TMJ pain, consider Botox for TMJ. To schedule a consultation with a member of our team, or to learn more about Botox and TMJ, contact us today!