When children are growing up, the development of their permanent teeth is a highly important factor. When their permanent teeth are forming, some complications, such as bruxism, may arise. It consists of the unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth, either when the patient is awake or asleep. Below, we’ve detailed some tips for you to detect the symptoms and treat any complications bruxism may cause so that any further complications are avoided.
Causes
Stressful situations and important changes in your child’s life may lead to anxiety, which can result in muscle tension and in teeth grinding. It is common that children grind their teeth, especially between the ages of 6 and 10. However, it must not be a reason to worry about. Bruxism in children is not considered a major disorder as it is in adults. Instead, it is a phase that children experience because of different causes, and it tends to disappear when the permanent teeth start erupting. Nevertheless, preventing bruxism is crucial because an early wear of the teeth can result in complications such as head and earaches.
How to Treat It
- Reduce the amount of physical activity your child does right before going to sleep. It will help them to relax and, therefore, not grind their teeth. You can try a hot bath, read a story to them or implement relaxation techniques.
- Don’t let your child falling asleep with the TV or any other electronic device turned on. Background noise disturbs sleep and can generate anxiety, which can turn into sleep bruxism.
- Avoid nervous behaviors such as nail, lips or pencil biting to relax. These cause a major tension in the jaw.
- In some cases, such as in crossbite, an orthodontic treatment may be the correct course of action.
- There are some orthodontic appliances that prevent your child from grinding or clenching their teeth that they can use at night or during the day, in extreme cases.
We hope this information has been helpful to you and your child. And remember, at the first sign that your child is grinding their teeth, contact a pediatric dentist from Pediatric Dental Associates. Either if you’re looking for for an orthodontist in Glen Rock or an orthodontist in Fair Lawn and surrounding areas, we have got you covered. Call us now at (201) 652-7020.
