Wellness - Dental Care | 3-12 yrs
Dealing With Teeth Grinding In Children
ParentCircle
"A smile can heal a thousand wounds." - Art Smith
But, what if the child develops a bad habit that ruins or deforms it? Teeth-grinding is a habit that is difficult to deal with. It usually occurs among children and most of them tend to outgrow this habit. Teeth grinding is not a severe problem but if overlooked can cause irreparable damage. Apart from causing harm to the child's teeth, it also causes an irritating sound. But, don’t worry, some home-remedies and prevention measures can help you get your child off this habit. There are several factors responsible for teeth-grinding like deficiency of minerals and vitamins, stress and non-uniform teeth structure. Getting your child checked for the same can help you figure out a reason and a solution to deal with the situation effectively. It is also seen that children tend to grind their teeth when in pain.
Hence, consulting a dentist can help figure out the situation and know whether it is critical or not. Tooth-hyposensitivity, i.e., lack of muscle strength and control, and eating disorders could also be responsible for teeth grinding in children. Teeth-grinding is curable and does not cause permanent harm if treated in time. There are also several alternative tools available which the child can chew when he feels the urge to grind his teeth.
According to Ark Therapeutic Services, "Tooth grinding may be a form of stimming. Short for self-stimulation, stimming is a way that individuals with autism and/or sensory processing disorder (SPD) calm and organize themselves, especially in times of stress or extreme emotions.”
For more detailed information about teeth grinding in children, please refer to the ClipBook below.
Understanding Bruxism (Teeth Grinding Or Clenching)
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. It often happens during deep sleep phases or when kids are under stress. It is common in kids, but most will outgrow it.
6 Things You Should Know About Teeth Grinding
In most cases bruxism is mild. But, when it’s frequent and severe, grinding teeth can aggravate the joints in your children's lower jaw. This can lead to pain or tightness in the joint area, and even earaches and headaches.
Possible Causes And What You Can Do
While most kids outgrow grinding their teeth, intervention may be necessary if they don’t. Teeth grinding over a prolonged period may put them at risk for worn-down teeth, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain, headaches, etc.
Daytime Teeth Grinding In Children
Children who grind their teeth during the daytime have a condition called bruxism that causes clenching and grinding. Bruxism can do significant damage to your child’s teeth and it causes discomfort of the jaw muscles.
Helping Kids With Night Bruxism
While most cases of pediatric bruxism resolve on their own, some cases showing excessive wear of primary teeth may require use of a mouthguard. This is definitely a decision to be made in conjunction with your dentist.
When Babies Grind Their Teeth
Almost all babies outgrow the habit of teeth grinding. Until yours does, you can give her plenty to do and look at and offer her a chilled teething ring. If she's still grinding after all her teeth come in, have a pediatric dentist check them for ...
Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard For Kids
Teeth grinding mouth guard for kids can prevent your child from biting or grinding the teeth. However, in most of the cases no such measures may even be required as bruxism may be mild and will stop naturally without causing any harmful effects on...
