Volume 30, Issue 168, February 2026

Botulinum toxin in the treatment of bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders

Milena Kędzierska, Michał Wójcicki, Agnieszka Kowalska^♦, Michał Biernacki

Collegium Medicum at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Agnieszka Kowalska, Collegium Medicum at Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland

ABSTRACT

Bruxism and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common problems with the jaw and chewing muscles. These conditions have many causes, including overactive jaw muscles, stress or other psychological factors, and changes in how pain is processed. Standard treatments, like mouthguards, physiotherapy, and medicines, often help only a little. Because of this, Botox (botulinum toxin, BTX) is being used more to relax overactive muscles and reduce pain. This review aimed to look at the current evidence on how well Botox works, how safe it is, and how useful it is for treating bruxism and TMD. We searched PubMed for full-text articles in English and Polish from the last ten years (January, 2015 – September, 2025). We included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical trials that studied Botox for bruxism and TMD. The evidence shows that Botox can reduce jaw muscle activity, muscle soreness, and pain in people with bruxism, especially when standard treatments do not work. Studies show that people feel less pain, sleep better, and can do daily activities more easily. However, the results for TMD that involve the jaw joint are mixed. Meta-analyses often do not show that Botox works much better than a placebo for overall pain or jaw movement, although it can help with sore spots in the muscles. Botox is generally safe, and most side effects are mild and go away on their own. More high-quality studies are needed to understand the best uses of Botox, how well it works long-term, and the best ways to give the treatment.

Keywords: Botulinum Toxin, Bruxism, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), Masticatory Muscles

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e35ms3800

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i168.e35ms3800

Published: 18 February 2026