Molly Haworth, a teacher and mother of three from Leeds, has shared her transformative journey in managing painful teeth grinding, or bruxism, thanks to a self-help guide developed by a dental health expert from Leeds University. Having dealt with teeth grinding since her teenage years, Haworth experienced severe discomfort, including tense muscles, worn teeth, and debilitating pain.
Haworth recounted how her condition impacted her daily life: “It affected what I could eat. On the worst days, I struggled to consume solid or chewy foods and had to resort to a liquid diet,” she explained.
Initially, Haworth was unaware of her teeth grinding until a friend pointed it out when she was about 13 or 14. As she grew older, she began to notice the detrimental effects. “The grinding caused severe muscle tightness, resulting in pain and headaches that felt like a band around my head,” she said. Although she didn’t experience direct tooth pain, the discomfort radiated through her shoulders and caused earaches.
The pain became so intense that it interfered with her ability to open her mouth properly, leading her to rely on painkillers. In her quest for relief, she was prescribed anti-depressants—not for depression, but to relax her muscles. However, the side effects were unbearable, forcing her to take a day off work after just one dose.
Despite trying mouth guards, which she often chewed through, Haworth eventually sought help from her dentist, who suggested Botox injections to alleviate her symptoms. “They inject Botox into the facial muscles to prevent grinding. I had six injections at once, which paralyzed the muscles to stop the grinding,” she explained. While effective for pain relief, the treatment was temporary and could lead to side effects like facial drooping, requiring repeat visits every three months.
Her situation changed when her dentist referred her to Dr. Vishal Aggarwal, a clinical associate professor at the University of Leeds School of Dentistry. Dr. Aggarwal had developed a self-help manual in collaboration with patients from his clinics in Leeds and Manchester, which proved to be pivotal for Haworth.
“The guide taught me massage techniques and stress management strategies,” she said. “It helped me become more mindful of my habits and included advice on adjusting sleeping positions, although I found it difficult since I’m a stomach sleeper.”
Dr. Aggarwal acknowledged the debilitating nature of teeth grinding, noting, “It can severely affect people’s ability to eat and talk, leading to anxiety about the pain.” He cautioned that commonly recommended solutions, such as mouth guards, could exacerbate the issue by promoting jaw clenching.
He also shared a success story of a young patient who had become socially isolated due to her grinding. After using the manual, she was able to return to school and regain her life.
For Haworth, the self-help guide marked a turning point. “Botox may offer a quick fix for a couple of months, and medication might provide temporary relief, but they require ongoing treatment,” she stated. “This guide genuinely helped me break the cycle and the habit. While it does require effort, it took significantly less time and energy than all the dental appointments I had previously attended.”
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