Whilst botox has already been approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating migraines and wrinkles, it could now be signed off for the treatment of jaw pain.
The non-invasive cosmetic surgery procedure is hugely popular the world over with those clients looking to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is also used by many to treat excessive sweating – known as hyperhidrosis – along with eye muscle disorders and severe headaches.
Now, the FDA is looking to approve the treatment for those suffering from jaw muscle disorders, which can be extremely painful.
Temporomandibular joint disorder – which is also known as TMJ – currently affects an estimated 10 million people across the globe, and symptoms include inflammation and pain relating to the chewing muscles within the jaw.
It is caused by the inflammation of the joint connecting the mandible to the skull, and can even result in bad headaches and hearing loss.
Thanks to its muscle relaxant qualities, botox is believed to be the ideal solution with which to treat jaw problems such as TMJ, as well as helping those who clench or grind the teeth and jaw.
Laurie Violi, a TMJ sufferer for more than two decades, told WRAL.com that the disorder had caused her to suffer from severe headaches. Despite trying numerous methods to ward off the pain, such as mouthguards, nothing helped until she turned to botox. “It’s changed my life completely. It’s by far the best thing,” Violi told the news provider.
Salomon Maya, a dentist, told the news source, “When you inject botox into the jaw muscle you are relaxing that muscle,” explaining that the clenching of the muscle was what caused the majority of the pain.
Whilst the FDA consider whether to approve botox for use in helping this disorder, those who suffer from TMJ are advised by experts to try a lightweight mouthguard that has been fitted by a dentist, to eat soft foods that don’t test the jaw muscles too much, and to use cold or hot compresses to reduce the discomfort.
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