Grinding teeth of children in sleep

Grinding teeth is one of the problems that many children are involved in. This problem usually occurs at the age of 6.5 months, when the baby teeth grow, and sometimes at 5 years old, when the permanent teeth grow. In this article, we discuss children’s teeth grinding in sleep, its symptoms, effects, causes, and treatment. Stay with us.

What are the signs and symptoms of teeth grinding?

• If the child has a toothache while chewing food, it can be a sign of bruxism.
• The pain that the child has in his jaw, as well as the tightening of the jaw, can be due to contracting and using the jaw muscles.
• If you hear the sound of your child grinding his teeth while sleeping, the child grinds his teeth while sleeping and this sound is caused by the pressure on the teeth.
• Abnormal wear on the child’s teeth is another symptom.

The effects of teeth grinding

• Loss of child’s tooth enamel
• chipped teeth and sharpening of teeth
• Sensitization to temperature and sensitivity of teeth in general
• causing disease in some children (temporomandibular joint disorder)
• Pain in the child’s jaw and face
• Headache and earache
• Loose teeth of the child

Causes of teeth grinding in sleep

1. The cause of anxiety and stress in children with a gentle spirit can show itself through teeth grinding in the child’s sleep.
2. The presence of malocclusion or lack of coordination of teeth is another cause of grinding teeth, examples of these malocclusions are overbite and underbite.
3. ADHD or hyperactivity and other medical problems in children are other causes of teeth grinding.
4. The child has sleep disorders.
5. The teeth in the lower and upper jaw have irregularity.
6. The teeth have decay or damage.

Solutions to improve and treat children’s teeth grinding in sleep

To treat teeth grinding in children, it is recommended to create a calm environment for your child and try to reduce the level of stress and anxiety in the child.

Using a night guard or tooth protector is suitable for preventing teeth from grinding at night in older children. The night guard is a thin plastic piece and is placed on the teeth of the upper jaw. In addition to preventing the breakage and damage of the teeth, the night guard makes the child break the habit of grinding his teeth over time. Of course, the night guard may not be suitable for some children, for example, if the child does not feel comfortable during the night and sleeps badly, another way should be considered.

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