Can muscle relaxers help treat bruxism?

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, often occurs during sleep. In some cases, your dentist or physician may recommend taking a muscle relaxant before bedtime. This can help to relax the jaw, as well as ease any stress or anxiety, which is a common cause of teeth grinding. Your dentist can also fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep. 

Muscle relaxants can help treat bruxism, but they are not considered to be as effective as other treatments, such as splints or mouth guards. When muscle relaxants are prescribed for bruxism, they will usually be prescribed to be taken before bed. In general, bruxism must be severe, and other types of treatments will have been tried first before muscle relaxants are prescribed.