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Mar 01, 2024
Bruxism or teeth grinding is prevalent in children when they are sleeping. It makes them unconsciously grind their teeth or clench them tightly. It can even happen during the day when they are feeling uneasy or apprehensive. Most children stop doing it as they grow older. However, if they are doing it excessively, the constant grinding can lead to erosion of the enamel and make teeth vulnerable to cavities.
Children are, in any case, susceptible to tooth decay because of their affinity towards candies, chocolates, potato chips, burgers, cold drinks, etc. The sticky, starchy and sugary foods are harmful to teeth. If an unhealthy diet is coupled with bruxism, the consequences can be negative.
Thus, parents must understand the reasons behind bruxism in children and how it can be treated. The information below will help you gain an insight into this problem and dealing with it.
1. Reasons behind Bruxism in Children
Teeth grinding can occur for various reasons in children aged between 2 to 11 years. An expert dentist in Hope Island can help detect the cause of the problem through an examination. The most common ones include:
- Misaligned teeth
- Stress or anxiety
- Hyperactivity
- Teething pain or earache
- Cerebral Palsy
2. Problems Arising From Bruxism
Although bruxism while sleeping is an involuntary reaction and is quickly outgrown by children, it can lead to problems in some cases. These are listed below:
- Sleep disorder or waking up several times at night
- Lack of sleep leads to reduced focus and irritability
- Tooth sensitivity because of loss of enamel
- Cracked or flattened teeth due to grinding and clenching
- Headache and facial pain after waking up
- Pain in the jaw while opening and closing the mouth or eating
- Developing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)
3. Identifying Bruxism in Children
It is vital to get the teeth of your children examined by reliable dentists in Hope Island regularly. They can determine the cause and extent of bruxism by:
- Checking for soreness in the jaw
- Identifying cracks on the tooth’s surface or changes to its shape
- Looking for enamel erosion
- Ulcers in cheeks
- Swelling of the lower jaw
- Grinding noise at night is a common symptom that can be easily picked up by parents
4. Treatment for Teeth Grinding
Children with mild bruxism are not required to undergo any treatment. However, if the problem is leading to pain and sleep disorder, it must be corrected by using the following methods:
- Hope Island dentists recommend using a mouth guard to protect teeth from the impact of grinding and clenching. It also helps to reduce pain in the jaw.
- If the constant grinding has affected the shape of the tooth, the dentist will use crowns to cover the cracked surface and prevent bacterial infection.
- Children showing symptoms of bruxism must be given counselling to reduce stress and anxiety that may originate from academic pressure or bullying at school.
5. Ways to Prevent Bruxism in Children
Teeth grinding can last for up to four seconds and take place six times in sixty minutes. It can be prevented by helping children relax before bedtime. It can be achieved by following the tips below:
- Introduce your children to mindfulness meditation from a young age. Sit with them to help them calm down and let go of any negative thoughts that are making them overthink.
- A warm bath before bedtime can help them sleep comfortably and feel peaceful.
- Read positive stories with them and limit screen time for sleeping. They must put away all gadgets at least an hour before sleeping.
- Listen to calming and soothing music while putting them to sleep to release negative emotions.
- Talk to your children about things that are bothering them and affecting their mental health. Make sure they are not scared or anxious before going to sleep.
- If the grinding is happening because of misaligned teeth, the dentist will recommend braces or Invisalign to get them in shape.
6. Things to do When Diagnosed With Bruxism
Children who have been diagnosed with bruxism must maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow the recommendations of dentists in Hope Island. These include:
- Use a cold compress for painful jaw muscles
- Stop eating hard foods that can increase jaw pain
- Keep your facial muscles relaxed and avoid clenching consciously
- Get the child enrolled in hobby classes to reduce stress
- Increase playtime that does not include competitive games
- Avoid chewing gums and candies
- Visit your dentist regularly and wear the mouth guard as prescribed
- Drink a lot of water before going to bed
Wrapping Up
Bruxism affects 20% of children which includes grinding, gnawing, clenching and tapping. Although most children have mild symptoms and outgrow them by the age of 12, they should not be ignored. Visit your family dentist regularly to identify the problems arising from teeth grinding and get them treated.
