Teeth grinding, headaches, and facial shaping with muscle relaxant injections

Article medically reviewed by Dr. Gavin Chan

Templestowe Lower, Berwick and Beaumaris Clinics

Dr. Gavin Chan, MBBS, General Registration (MED0001175745), founder of the Victorian Cosmetic Institute, began offering cosmetic medical treatments in 2004. Formerly a trainer for cosmetic pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Chan currently concentrates on offering ongoing training to cosmetic doctors at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute. He ensures that all doctors stay updated with the latest procedures and methods in the cosmetic industry. Read More

Overactivity of the masseter muscle, the muscle responsible for chewing that is located at the angle of the jaw, is often responsible for teeth grinding and headaches. This can often be a debilitating condition, and as the grinding usually occurs at night, this is a common cause for early morning headaches. The temporalis muscle, located over the temples, is also associated with this problem.

Due to TGA restrictions, the actual name of the muscle relaxant used cannot be named, but is a commonly used injection for treating facial wrinkles that can also be used as a simple and effective means of helping reduce masseter muscle overactivity. This muscle relaxant helps to reduce the overactivity of the muscle, without disturbing the normal functioning of the muscle. In a study of 90 patients who had facial headaches, 60 were given the muscle relaxant to the masseter muscles, and 30 were given a placebo. The results showed a significant improvement in those receiving muscle relaxant treatments (The Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Volume 61, issue 7, Lindern et al).

Furthermore, there is a cosmetic enhancement that can occur with this treatment, as the jawline tends to slim and look less ‘square’.