Why is Bruxism Common In Children?

Bruxism is a dental condition that causes teeth to grind and clench involuntarily. It can occur among people of all ages. However, it is prevalent in children, the exact reason is unknown, but several factors that can cause bruxism in children include the following:

• Improper Teeth Alignment: Teeth misalignment or an improper bite causes muscle tension on your teeth. The pressure on the jaw can cause temporomandibular joint disorder, a condition that causes involuntary jaw spasms and teeth clenching.
• Stress and anxiety: Children can experience anxiety due to fear of exams, family issues, and changes in the environment. Bruxism occurs as a result of emotional stress.
• Pain: Pain in children as a result of teething or earache can result in involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth
• Sleeping habits: Poor sleeping habits like sleeping on the stomach or having an irregular sleeping schedule can cause bruxism in children.
• Developmental Factors: Bruxism is common in kids aged 3 to 6 who are still developing permanent teeth. However, it is temporary and subsides as the children grow older.
• Medical reasons: Some medical conditions like hyperactivity, cerebral palsy, and autism can cause bruxism in children

Remember that bruxism in children is primarily temporary and goes away as they grow older. However, it would help to consider bruxism and teeth-grinding treatment in Taylor and West Bloomfield if you are concerned about bruxism in your kids.

Effects of Bruxism on Children

Sometimes bruxism in kids can go unnoticed partly because it mainly occurs at night, and your kids might be too young to tell you about the condition. Some effects that bruxism can have on your kids include the following:

• Headaches
• Earaches
• Chipped teeth
• Wearing out of the tooth enamel
• Teeth sensitivity
• Teeth and jaw pain

How is Bruxism Diagnosed in Children?

Often, kids won’t know they have bruxism. Please remember that self-diagnosing your kids can cause you more stress. It would help to visit Golnick Pediatric Dental Associates to have a pediatric dentist examine your kids for bruxism. Nevertheless, some tell-tale signs of bruxism in your children include the following:

• You hear grinding noises as your kid sleeps
• A swollen face or jaw
• Your kids complain of teeth or jaw pain
• Your child complains of pain during chewing

A dentist can diagnose bruxism in children by:

• Checking the enamel for signs of wear and tear
• Spraying water on their teeth to check for sensitivity
• Checking if their enamel is chipped
• Checking for misaligned teeth
• Asking about stressing factors that your kids may be experiencing

How is Bruxism Treated?

A pediatric dentist will recommend a night guard to prevent teeth clenching and grinding in your kid. Sometimes, a special custom-made night guard is best for your kid as it fits perfectly and won’t come off at night. It might take some time for your kid to get used to the night guard, but they will ease into it gradually.

How Parents Can Help Kids With Bruxism

Parents can help their kids alleviate the effects of bruxism by doing the following:

Helping Kids Relax Before Sleep Time:

You can help your kid ease into sleep by:

• Reading them a book
• Giving them a warm bath
• Playing soothing music
• Cuddling them

Check for Stressing Factors

Stress contributes significantly to bruxism in children. It would be best to ask your kid if something is upsetting them, such as bullying in school or anxiety from exams. Listen to your kids and reassure them to help reduce their stress and anxiety.

Taking Them To a Pediatrician

Sometimes you may find it hard to control stress or anxiety in your kids. In such instances, it helps to take your kids to a pediatrician as they are trained to handle children. The pediatrician will recommend pain relievers for jaw, teeth, or ear pain. Additionally, they can give you tips on how to help your kid overcome bruxism.

Conclusion

Bruxism is common among children and can sometimes go unnoticed. Please remember that your kids may not know that they have bruxism. It would help to check for signs of grinding of teeth, stress, and teeth sensitivity. It’s important to note that bruxism is not a permanent condition. It goes away as your kids grow. However, it would help to visit a dentist to treat bruxism before it can cause adverse effects like tooth sensitivity, pain, and teeth chipping.