How do medications treat teeth grinding (bruxism)?

One medication that may be able to help with bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If stress or anxiety is the cause of this problem, muscle relaxants can help you relax. You should first consult with your dentist to determine the cause of teeth grinding and then determine the best treatment method.

In general, medications cannot treat teeth grinding, or bruxism. If your jaws are extremely tight, you might try a muscle relaxant to ease them. Some people have tried Botox injections to loosen muscles. Instead of medication, your dentist may recommend a mouth guard or other plastic device to protect your teeth at night. Finding ways to reduce stress can also be helpful, including meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and exercise.

In most instances, medications are not effective for treating teeth grinding. If they are used, it is generally only for a short period of time. Sometimes muscle relaxants or other sleep aids are recommended to help the person with teeth grinding relax before bedtime. If your bruxism is a side effect of another drug, then your doctor will likely prescribe a different medication. For some severe cases of teeth grinding, Botox injections may be used to help relax the jaw muscles.