Ever woken up with your jaw aching from clenching it during the night? Or worse, been awoken by an exasperated elbow after your teeth grinding became impossible to ignore? You're not alone. The stress of the recession has led to an increase in 'bruxism', the medical term for the condition, according to dentists.

A new German study has linked the problem directly to anxiety, while one Edinburgh dental surgery has seen a rise of 10-20% over the last 18 months. However, sufferers aren't always aware there's a problem until they begin suffering from tension headaches or pain in their jaw and even cracked teeth.

Stress is one of the most common causes, whether it's because of money, work or relationship worries, while numbers often jump around exam time.

But whatever might be triggering it, it's important to go to your dentist to avoid damaging your teeth. The British Dental Health Foundation recommends treatments including a plastic nightguard, a type of gum shield to push your teeth into a position where your muscles are relaxed when you bite on it.

There are also various corrective exercises, as well as relaxation therapy or even counselling to tackle the root of the problem.

But if none of these treatments are working, it could be time to break out the Botox. Better known for its wrinkle-erasing properties, injecting small amounts of the toxin into the jaw relaxes the muscles, helping to stop the grinding.

Dr Bob Khanna, an expert in cosmetic dentistry, says the 10-minute treatment has to be very precise to avoid freezing the jaw completely, but in around three days patients start to see results, and with regular treatments the muscles learn to relax themselves. Each session costs £350-£600, depending on the severity of the condition.

Dr Khanna, who has developed his own technique, the 'Dr BK Lift', which he has taught to 6,500 dentists and health professionals, reveals that as well as stopping the painful side-effects, the treatment has another bonus, slimming down square jaws, as the overworked muscles from long-term grinding bulk up the face.