Why does a child grind his teeth in his sleep? Shortly after the appearance of teeth, some children begin to rub them against each other. This reaction is observed in every third child at the age of ten months. In medicine, this phenomenon is called bruxism.
When do babies start grinding their teeth?
If your child suddenly develops the habit of grinding his teeth, do not panic. This habit occurs at an early age in a third of children. This usually occurs at 8-12 months of age when the front teeth erupt in children (read " The order of teething in a child and the time of their appearance ").
But it can also be a learning process. According to Venice pediatric dentist Dr. Jeffrey Jenoff, bruxism helps your baby learn new teeth, their sounds and their behavior. All this is new to him.
Children usually kick the habit themselves, but until then, you can give them a chilled tooth ring to chew on. If the grinding of the teeth at night does not stop by the time all the teeth have come out, it is worth visiting a pediatric dentist, as in this case the teeth are subjected to excessive wear.
Why do children grind their teeth?
The true cause of bruxism is unknown. Some children are thought to rub their teeth because of earache or teething. We rub sore muscles to relieve pain. Also, children rub their teeth to get rid of gum pain. Others think that the reason is the unevenness of the upper and lower lines of the teeth.
Another cause of children's teeth grinding can be stress in the form of anger or agitation. Any change in routine, struggles with siblings, conflicts with parents, a new school, or fear of a test—all of these forms of stress can cause a child to grind their teeth.
This problem is faced by hyperactive children, as well as those who take certain medications or suffer from any disease (for example, cerebral palsy).
In addition, worms can become the cause of teeth grinding in a dream. See this video for more on this:
How to save a child from the night grinding of teeth?
1. Calm your baby before bed
Help your child relax before putting him/her to bed. So you can control the physical and psychological types of bruxism. Have your child take a shower or a warm bath. Read to him/her or put on some music. This will help you relax.
If your toddler is rubbing his teeth because of stress, then talk to him/her about it and make sure everything is fine. For example, if he/she is excited about going to a camp far away from home, he/she needs to be reassured that you will always be there when needed.
For more difficult problems that cause stress, try to dissuade the child and relieve him / her of fears. In extreme cases, you can consult a doctor.
Sometimes these measures are not enough to get rid of grinding teeth in a dream. And then you need an assessment of a specialist who will tell you how to deal with the problem.
2. Specific advice
The following are tips that can help children deal with bruxism:
- Try to relax your baby's muscles with exercise or massage.
- Sometimes children grind their teeth when they feel dehydrated. Therefore, your baby should receive enough fluids.
- Track the condition of his teeth at the dentist.
- Preschool children (4-6 years old) usually do not need additional measures to cope with bruxism. But older children (7-10 years old) may need night guards or temporary crowns.
FAQ
Is it bad if a child grinds his teeth in his sleep?
Usually bruxism is not a serious problem. The child does not do much harm to the teeth when he rubs them. And many children soon get rid of this habit.
But you can always ask your dentist to check your child's teeth for wear and other signs of grinding like holes, cracks, or pulp exposure. Regular check-ups with a doctor are very important.
The first visit to the dentist should be done at the age of one year.
How long does nighttime teeth grinding last?
By adolescence, most children get rid of the habit of grinding their teeth. This happens when they lose their milk teeth. But in some children, even at this age, bruxism persists.
If the problem is caused by stress, then it will not disappear until the cause of childhood experiences is eliminated. Therefore, to deal with this type of bruxism, you need to talk about the issues with your child.
How to prevent children from bruxism?
Teeth grinding is a natural reaction. It occurs on growth and development, and therefore, in most cases, nocturnal creaking cannot be prevented.
Another reason that a child grinds his teeth at night can be stress. And in such cases, there is a solution. If you think your baby is stressed, talk to him/her about the problem. Convince him and help him beat the stress. To do this, simply sit next to him / her and talk about his / her feelings and thoughts. Seek help from a doctor if necessary.
