Morning jaw ache
Your jaw feels tight, tired or sore when you wake.
Teeth grinding · Jaw clenching · Jaw tension
Bruxism & Teeth Grinding Consultation
A clinician-led assessment for teeth grinding, jaw clenching and overactive jaw muscles at Santi London in South Kensington. We look at symptoms, dental wear, sleep and daytime habits before discussing the most appropriate options.
Function firstConsultant Plastic SurgeonsDental collaborationComplimentary two-week review
In the UK, botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. This page describes our clinical consultation pathway. Any prescription treatment can only be considered after an appropriate face-to-face medical assessment confirms suitability.
20+ years
Santi medical-aesthetics experience
Consultant-led
Board-certified Consultant Plastic Surgeons
30–45 mins
Typical consultation-led appointment
2-week review
Complimentary where treatment is undertaken
Are these symptoms familiar?
Bruxism does not always mean obvious night-time grinding. Some people predominantly clench during the day or wake with muscular symptoms without knowing what happened during sleep.
Tooth wear or sensitivity
Your dentist has noticed flattening, chipping, enamel wear or other signs of repeated force.
Headaches & facial tension
Regular tension around the temples, cheeks or jaw, particularly after sleep or prolonged concentration.
Audible grinding
A partner notices grinding sounds during sleep, even if you remain unaware of them.
Daytime clenching
You catch yourself holding your teeth together while working, driving or concentrating.
Prominent jaw muscles
Repeated heavy masseter use can contribute to muscular bulk in some people.
Three related problems
Grinding, clenching and jaw-joint symptoms are not identical
Grinding involves repetitive tooth-to-tooth movement, often during sleep. Clenching is sustained jaw-muscle contraction and can occur while awake or asleep. TMJ-type symptoms may include clicking, locking or joint pain and can require broader dental or specialist assessment.
Protecting the teeth
A night guard and muscle treatment do different jobs
Dental splints / night guards
- Provide a physical barrier between the teeth.
- Can help protect enamel and dental work from repeated forces.
- Should be assessed and fitted through appropriate dental care.
- Remain important even if muscular symptoms improve.
Reducing muscle overactivity
- May be considered when excessive masseter activity contributes to symptoms.
- Does not mechanically protect the teeth.
- Does not replace dental assessment or treatment.
- Is considered as one part of a broader management plan.
Reducing excessive masseter activity — not eliminating normal function
If the clinician considers a prescription treatment appropriate, carefully placed injections may be discussed to reduce excessive activity in the masseter muscles. The aim is to lessen muscular strain while preserving normal chewing and facial movement.
Some people notice a reduction in muscular activity within the first couple of weeks, with the response becoming clearer over the following weeks. Any change in lower-face contour is secondary and develops more gradually.
What to expect
1 · Assessment
We review jaw symptoms, dental history, sleep patterns, daytime clenching, medication and relevant medical history, then examine the jaw muscles.
2 · Management plan
We discuss appropriate options, which may include dental protection, habit modification, physiotherapy and, where clinically suitable, a prescription treatment.
3 · Review
Where treatment is undertaken, a complimentary review is available at approximately two weeks. The clinical response continues to evolve beyond this point.
Bruxism often benefits from more than one approach
Dental & physical measures
Continue a dentist-prescribed night guard. Seek dental review for significant tooth wear or fractures. Physiotherapy may help where jaw symptoms coexist with neck or postural tension. Persistent clicking, locking or joint pain may need dedicated TMJ assessment.
Daily habits
Notice daytime clenching and practise a relaxed resting jaw position. Avoid prolonged gum chewing if it aggravates symptoms. Consider sleep quality and factors that appear to worsen grinding. Stress can contribute, but bruxism is not assumed to have a single cause.
Suitability & risks
When treatment may not be the right first step
We may recommend further assessment for:
- Significant jaw locking or restricted opening
- Severe or unexplained joint pain
- Extensive dental damage requiring treatment
- Symptoms suggesting a sleep disorder
- Very slim lower-face anatomy where muscle reduction may cause hollowing
If injections are used, possible effects include:
- Temporary redness, swelling or bruising
- Short-lived chewing fatigue
- Asymmetry or uneven response
- Excessive muscle reduction or unwanted hollowing
- Rare unwanted effects involving nearby muscles
Continue your research
Masseter Consultation
Masseter anatomy, jaw-muscle bulk, function and lower-face contour.
Explore masseter →Physiotherapy
For associated neck, postural and wider musculoskeletal factors.
Explore physiotherapy →Botox Information Hub
Consultation guidance, educational resources and related areas.
Visit Botox hub →Our Medical Team
Meet Santi's Consultant Plastic Surgeons and wider clinical team.
Meet the team →Bruxism & teeth grinding FAQs
What is the difference between grinding and clenching?
Grinding generally involves repetitive tooth-to-tooth movement, while clenching is sustained contraction of the jaw muscles. Both can occur during sleep, and clenching can also occur while awake.
Should I still use my night guard?
Yes, if your dentist has recommended one. A splint helps protect the teeth mechanically and performs a different role from treatment aimed at reducing excessive muscle activity.
Will treatment stop me grinding completely?
No treatment should be presented as a guaranteed cure. Management aims to reduce excessive muscular activity and its consequences where clinically appropriate, while addressing dental protection and contributing factors separately.
How quickly might I notice a change?
If a prescription injection treatment is used, some people notice reduced muscle activity within one to two weeks, with the response becoming clearer over subsequent weeks.
Will it change the shape of my jaw?
Where the masseter muscles are enlarged, reduced activity can gradually reduce muscle bulk. This is secondary to function and comfort on this bruxism pathway.
Can stress cause bruxism?
Stress can contribute to clenching or grinding in some people, but bruxism can have several contributing factors. We do not assume stress is the sole cause.
Do you offer a follow-up?
Yes. Where treatment is undertaken, a complimentary review is available at approximately two weeks. The response continues to develop after that review.
Concerned about grinding, clenching or jaw tension?
Start with a private consultation in South Kensington. We’ll assess the pattern of your symptoms, jaw muscles and dental history and explain which combination of approaches is most appropriate.