And the peaceful night’s sleep that should be quiet is suddenly interrupted by strange noises. And worse, the noise is coming from the kids’ room—or rather, from the kids themselves! Looking more closely, you realize the sound you hear is your child’s teeth grinding frantically, and then you come to the conclusion that they suffer from childhood bruxism.
Not all parents manage to realize this right away, as many don’t even know what it is. The sound of teeth grinding makes anyone uncomfortable and can cause serious damage to the teeth and bone structures of those who have it.
What is Bruxism?
Childhood bruxism is a sleep disorder characterized by involuntary pressure of the teeth along with movement of the jaw. It is usually linked to anxiety crises, stress, and in some cases difficulty in fully closing the mouth.
Diagnosis
The problem can affect up to 15% of children and doesn’t have a specific age at which it appears—it can occur in both boys and girls. Usually, bruxism is only noticed when someone hears the noises and reports what is happening.
Another way to diagnose is due to intense pain in the facial area, and by visiting a dentist who will assess the condition of the teeth.
Childhood bruxism is identified because it happens during sleep, usually at night. For patients who grind their teeth during the day while carrying out daily activities, the problem is called bruxomania.
Unlike bruxism, tooth pressing is semi-voluntary and is, in most cases, related to tics and habits.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Because it’s an issue that not all parents are aware of, after hearing the tooth grinding sounds, it is common and recommended to visit a dentist. In almost all cases of children suffering from childhood bruxism, the teeth show signs of wear and damaged enamel.
Greater Damage
In more severe cases, there can be damage to the gum tissues. Childhood bruxism can also cause loosening of teeth due to the intense pressure.
Severe ear and neck pain may also occur. Fatigue and physical tiredness right after waking up are also very common, as they don’t get restful sleep even if they’re unaware of it.
Symptoms usually go away spontaneously over time, but while bruxism is present, the child may suffer from severe headaches and pain in the jaw muscle. Treatment is done by a dentist and is fully individualized since bruxism can be caused by various factors.
Treatment for Bruxism
The best treatment is the one that targets the underlying cause. In cases of extreme anxiety, the dentist may recommend relaxation methods like natural calming remedies or even placing a warm towel beside the child’s face to help relax the muscles at bedtime.
In cases where teeth show signs of wear and damage, the best method is to use an appropriate dental protection device. The device is a mouth guard, which can be made of silicone (which is soft) or acrylic (which is rigid), designed to protect the teeth and prevent bone wear.
These guards are made by taking a mold of the patient’s dental arch and should be worn during bruxism episodes. Treatment should be monitored through regular dental visits, where the dentist will assess the case and also the condition of the guard being used.
See Also: Baby Teeth – When Do They Erupt and When Do They Fall Out?
Photo: Amanda, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL
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Key Information Box:
- And the peaceful night’s sleep that should be quiet is suddenly interrupted by strange noises. And worse, the noise is coming from the kids’ room—or rather, from the kids themselves!
- Childhood bruxism is a sleep disorder characterized by involuntary pressure of the teeth, also shifting the jaw.
- The problem can affect up to 15% of children; it does not have a specific age at which it appears and can happen in both boys and girls.
- Because it’s an issue that not all parents are aware of, after hearing the tooth grinding sounds, it’s common and recommended to consult a dentist.
- Symptoms usually go away spontaneously over time, but while bruxism is active, the child may suffer from severe headaches and jaw muscle pain.
