Certain children are known to suffer from a condition called "Bruxism". This problem could be noticed most easily during your kid's sleep as they grind and scrape their teeth. It is less common for children to exhibit these kinds of symptoms during the day. Bruxism is the clinical term for clenching of the jaw and also grinding your teeth, particularly throughout periods of deep sleep or while the human body is under stress. Approximately 30% of kids grind and clench, with the highest frequency levels are in children under 5 years of age.
In certain cases the origin of Bruxism is not known for sure. Jagged teeth or poor tooth alignment amid the lower and upper teeth could cause children to grind their teeth. Some other circumstances are the result of discomfort, just like teething or earaches. Unconsciously kids may possibly grind their teeth because they want to ease the pain, just like we would rub sore muscles.
Another reason for bruxism could be nervous pressure when they are distressed or angry. Your child could have fears about a adjustment in their routines, a test at school, or simply common strain with friends and relatives. Arguing with parents could create ample stress to start jaw clenching or teeth grinding.
Recurrent pressure from clenching and grinding will possibly slow the development of the back molars and could affect proper alignment of the teeth and jaws. An incorrect bite triggers pressure points in the jaw and mouth that can easily cause face pain, throat pain, tenderness or rigid mouth joints, and level of sensitivity or anxiety within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Frequently anytime children have concerns adjusting to or relieving excessive tension in their eardrums, grinding can be a method for them to help reduce this pressure. In some kids, their night time grinding and clenching can be significant enough to wear out the enamel of the teeth, chip teeth, bring about sensitivities to hot and cold stimulus, and can result in serious jaw issues and facial pain, like temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ). Finally, several children may experience morning headaches or earaches as a result of night time grinding and clenching.
Usually kids are not aware of the fact that they are grinding their teeth. It is likely to be the parents or siblings who initially recognize the problem. Some of the indicators to watch out for are grinding sounds when the youngster is asleep, thumb and finger sucking, nail biting, complaints about a tender face or jaw in the morning, chewing about the sides of the cheek, sore temples and ears, and gnawing on toys and pencils. If there is a concern that your kid might be showing one or maybe more of these symptoms, have your oral health care specialist examine the teeth for chipped enamel and unusually worn down teeth. If there is any visible signs on the teeth, an exam could be executed to ascertain whether or not the grinding is being prompted by misaligned teeth or psychological stress factors and provide you with a personalized treatment plan.
A night guard might be prescribed to the child in situations where the grinding and clenching is bringing forth face pain and jaw pain or there is some enamel destruction on the teeth. All these custom made guards are excellent for your son or daughter's teeth and they are much like the ones worn by professional athletes. It might take kids a few nights to get used to using a mouth guard, but they're painless and will provide nearly immediate benefits.
Prior to bedtime parents could try to establish a more calm ambiance for the child so as to help him handle bruxism. A great example might be reading a book, taking a temperate bath or enjoying some soothing music. For tension related difficulties with bruxism, we encourage the parents to expose what may be contributing the child's issue to be able to seek a remedy to anxiety.
If the root of bruxism is a natural response to growth and development, preventing the sickness can be very complicated. However, bruxism can be effortlessly stopped if the root is anxiety related. You'll find several techniques to coping with tension and inner thoughts by exercising, eating routine and comprehending that can easily and will positively modify the little one's disposition. Every situation will individually rely on the kid and the situation as to be the best technique for improving stress levels. Furthermore, your dentist might also custom fabricate an oral device to help line up the jaw and prevent any subsequent damage brought on by bruxism.
