Logan Steele
The masseter muscle is a powerful muscle that helps us chew and eat our food. It is located on each side of our face and helps to elevate and move the lower jaw forward. Over time, certain habits such as gum chewing, emotional stress, and chronic clenching or grinding can cause the masseter muscles to be overworked, resulting in pain or hypertrophy of the muscle. This can lead to an enlarged jawbone and a more square-shaped face, which some people may find unattractive. While Botox injections are an effective way to relax and reduce the size of the masseter muscle, there are also natural methods to soften and slim it down.
How to soften masseter muscle
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stop clenching your jaw | Try to avoid clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, especially during sleep. |
| Night guard | Use a night guard or splint to prevent clenching and grinding during sleep. |
| Botox injections | Botox helps to relax the muscles, but it may require multiple injections to balance the muscles. |
| Massage | Massage the muscle to help with water retention and make your face look slimmer. |
| Reduce gum chewing | Chewing gum can cause inflammation and nerve damage, leading to swollen masseter muscles. |
| Avoid hard foods | Avoid chewing hard foods to reduce the activation of masseter muscles. |
| Mewing | Mewing is an oral exercise that improves tongue posture and can help reduce jaw size. |
| Surgery | In some cases, surgery may be an option to remove part of the masseter muscle or perform liposuction. |
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What You'll Learn
Stop clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth
Jaw clenching, also known as bruxism, is a prevalent condition where the jaw is clenched and the teeth are ground together rhythmically. This can happen during the day or at night and can cause various symptoms such as jaw pain, tooth damage, headaches, and worn or damaged teeth.
If you suspect that you are clenching your jaw, it is important to address the causes and seek appropriate treatment. Managing stress and anxiety is a key component of reducing jaw clenching. This is because stress is a major cause of bruxism, and people often clench their teeth when feeling overwhelmed or anxious. You can practice stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to help relax your jaw muscles.
Another cause of jaw clenching is misaligned or crooked teeth. The jaw may try to find a more comfortable alignment during sleep, leading to teeth grinding. Seeking orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth can help reduce jaw clenching and alleviate its associated symptoms.
Additionally, you can try jaw joint stretches and facial exercises to relax the jaw and improve its range of motion, ultimately reducing the occurrence of clenching. One effective exercise is the jaw joint stretch. To perform this stretch, start by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth right behind your upper front teeth. Then, slowly open your mouth as wide as possible, making sure to keep your tongue in place. Hold this position for a few seconds before closing your mouth.
In some cases, a custom-made night guard or bite splint may be necessary to protect the teeth and jaw during sleep. A dental professional can assess the extent of your clenching and provide appropriate treatment options, which may include the use of these devices.
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Wear a night guard to prevent clenching and grinding
Wearing a night guard is a simple and effective solution to prevent clenching and grinding. Also known as a mouth guard, dental guard, or bite plate, a night guard works similarly to a sports guard. It is a custom-fabricated piece of acrylic that fits over your teeth like a retainer.
By covering the teeth, the acrylic acts as a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth, preventing them from touching or grinding against each other. This helps to reduce the wear and damage to your teeth, including chipping and enamel erosion, and also helps to prevent tooth fractures, gum recession, and tooth movement. The night guard evenly distributes any force placed by clenching or grinding, so no single tooth or area will bear the full force. This also helps to reduce teeth and jaw pain, improving your comfort and allowing you to sleep better.
If you are experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or tooth damage due to clenching or grinding, talk to your dentist about getting a custom-fitted night guard. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to create a custom-fitted night guard. This imprint is then sent to a dental laboratory to be custom-made to match your teeth. The durability of a night guard varies, lasting between 1 and 5 years on average. It is important to regularly examine your night guard for signs of wear and damage and to clean it regularly with cool water and a toothbrush to prevent bacteria from building up.
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Try facial massages
Facial massages can be an effective way to relieve tension in the masseter muscle and alleviate jaw pain. The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in the human body by weight and is responsible for closing the mouth and setting the teeth together for chewing. It is located behind the cheeks and can generate hundreds of pounds of force.
To perform a self-massage, locate the masseter muscle by placing your fingers or knuckles on the underside of the cheekbone, about one inch in front of your ears. You should feel the muscle get stiff and engage when you clench your jaw. Apply firm kneading motions to massage the muscle with your fingers or knuckles, pressing firmly inward and upwards. Holding on any trigger points will help release the muscle tension.
Massaging the masseter muscle can help to relieve tension headaches and migraines, as well as toothaches and earaches. It can also improve water retention in the face, making it look slimmer. Regular massaging of the masseter muscle may help to prevent chronic pain and other complications associated with TMJ syndrome.
While facial massages can be a useful tool for managing jaw pain and tension, it is important to note that they may not be a permanent solution for reducing the size of the masseter muscle. To achieve significant shrinkage, it is necessary to reduce the amount of clenching and grinding, which can be challenging, especially during sleep.
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Practice mewing to improve tongue posture
Mewing is a DIY facial restructuring technique involving tongue placement. It is named after Dr. Mike Mew, a British orthodontist. Mewing involves flattening your tongue against the roof of your mouth, which is supposed to change your jawline and face shape. It is also purported to strengthen jaw muscles and expand the jaw.
To practice mewing, you must relax your tongue and make sure it is entirely against the roof of your mouth, including the back of the tongue. Your bottom front teeth should rest lightly behind your upper front teeth or close to them. You should feel your jaw muscles engage. The tip of your tongue should be placed just behind the upper front teeth, similar to the position it takes to make the "n" or "ng" sound. Hold for at least 20 seconds and repeat multiple times throughout the day. Over time, your muscles will remember this position, and it will become second nature. It is recommended to mew all the time, even when drinking liquids.
While mewing is not inherently dangerous, there is little scientific evidence to support claims that it can change your jaw structure, appearance, or improve your health. Experts say it is unlikely that mewing will change your jawline, especially if you've gone through puberty. Additionally, it may take years to see any results from mewing. If you have medical concerns about your mouth and jaw, it is recommended to see a doctor or dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
Some possible risks of mewing include forcing your tongue into unnatural positions, which the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) states could lead to negative consequences. The AAO recommends that you do not try to move your teeth or align your jaw without professional guidance.
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Undergo botox injections to relax the muscle
Undergoing Botox injections is a common method to relax the masseter muscle and alleviate associated pain. Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin that blocks nerve signals to the muscle, preventing it from contracting and allowing it to relax. This treatment is often recommended for individuals experiencing teeth grinding (bruxism) or jaw clenching, which can lead to masseter muscle hypertrophy (MMH) and a square-shaped jaw.
Before receiving masseter Botox, individuals typically consult a medical professional to discuss their goals and concerns. The medical professional will examine the patient's jaw and face to determine the injection sites and the number of syringes required. The procedure is then carried out by a healthcare provider, usually in a doctor's office, and does not require hospitalization.
During the procedure, the provider will clean the patient's skin to reduce the risk of infection and may apply topical anesthesia to numb the area. They will then inject a small amount of Botox into the masseter muscle at each predetermined site. The number of injections and the amount of Botox injected will vary depending on the patient's needs. The entire process is relatively quick, usually taking around 15 minutes.
After the injections, patients are monitored for a short time to ensure they don't experience any unexpected reactions. They can then return to their usual activities. The results of masseter Botox typically last for three to four months, providing a temporary solution for individuals seeking relief from jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and associated pain.
It is important to note that while Botox is a popular option, it may not be suitable for everyone. Some individuals may prefer to explore natural methods, such as trying to consciously avoid teeth clenching or massaging the muscle, although these methods may not be as effective in reducing muscle size.
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Frequently asked questions
The masseter muscle will soften if you can stop clenching your jaw, but this is usually not something that can be done voluntarily, especially when clenching and grinding your teeth during sleep. Many patients find Botox for masseter reduction a very effective way to relax the muscles.
Humans have two masseter muscles, one on each side of the face. They are a set of powerful muscles that help us chew and eat our food by elevating the lower jaw.
Masseter muscles can become enlarged due to being overworked. This can be caused by emotional stress, chronic clenching or grinding during the day or night, gum chewing, or a preference for chewing on one side.
There are a few ways to reduce the size of your masseter muscles without resorting to Botox. You can try a night guard to prevent clenching and grinding during sleep, or try mewing, an oral exercise that focuses on improving tongue posture.
Softening your masseter muscles can help reduce the appearance of a wide jaw, which can create a more masculine look in female faces or a bottom-heavy appearance. It can also help reduce pain and discomfort caused by overworked masseter muscles.
