Fear or stress: why do children grind their teeth and is it possible to overcome it?

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This is definitely not a worm.

Every third person on Earth grinds their teeth regularly. It is a process that affects both adults and children alike. But there is no doubt that the supernatural sounds, which did not attract much attention in the initial period, will gradually consume the nerves of the child's parents. What if they are caused by vomiting? Or what if he hurts his tooth? Maybe it's dangerous?

Below we introduce the reasons why children grind their teeth. We have to say: calm down, just calm down.

What is bruxism and where does it come from?

Involuntary gnashing of teeth is called bruxism in medicine (from the ancient Greek word meaning “gnashing of teeth”). Outbreaks of bruxism in children often occur during sleep - during its deepest period - or during intense anxiety.

The exact reasons that force children to grind their jawbones are still unknown to experts. However, some interactions have been identified. Thus, involuntary contraction of the masticatory muscles is often associated with the following factors.

The baby's milk or permanent teeth are coming out

Tooth eruption is a painful enough process. At this point, the gums itch and the boy unconsciously squeezes his jaw to suppress his unpleasant sensation.

Because of the uneven bite

It is observed that the upper and lower teeth are incorrectly attached to each other and as a result the jaws do not stick together. After the discomfort is born, the baby begins to bend its jaws in all directions to find a position where the teeth do not interfere with each other.

Lack of pressure for the jaw

This condition is common among children over the age of one and a half and who for some reason do not eat enough solid food. For example, the mother thinks that there is enough milk for the baby.

For several days, the jaw bones do not receive the required load and the body is forced to contract the jaw muscles as it tries to compensate for this with the night. Tooth decay is the next manifestation of this process.

The child is experiencing stress

Nervous tensions can lead to hypertension of the masticatory muscles. The child controls the movement of the facial muscles during the day. But at night the observation subsides, and the jaws, in their sense, become vascular.

The onset of stress is unique to each child. For some children, even a trivial argument with their parents or siblings can be a sufficient factor to grind their teeth in depression at night.

A child grinding his teeth may also be having an emotionally stressful dream.

Bruxism is also more common in overactive children.

The child is sick

Periodic allergies and upper respiratory tract infections - ORVI, influenza, angina - lead to nasal congestion. The child is forced to breathe through the mouth, that is, he opens and closes his jaw. In the closed position, sometimes the jaw is squeezed too hard, the teeth grind.

In addition, bruxism in children suffering from otitis may be an attempt to reduce the sensation of pain in the ear canals.

No, this is not a sign of worms!

Completely eliminate from your brain the assumption that any parasitic infections in the body are directly related to tooth decay. This is a myth: so far no scientific research has confirmed that helminths cause bruxism.

What to do if a child grinds his teeth in the afternoon?

In most cases - nothing. By the age of 7-8, children go through a period of tooth decay that is safe and absolutely uncomplicated.

But in some children, bruxism shows its next unpleasant effects:

• increased tooth enamel erosion - fracture, accelerated caries development, hypersensitivity of teeth to temperature;
• pain in the head or ear area;
• upper and lower jaw joint problems.

If you are familiar with this condition, consult your pediatrician or dentist. The doctor will help you find a relatively more plausible factor in the origin of bruxism. If this condition is related to tooth placement or itching in the teeth, the dentist will correct the problem. For example, it may recommend a special protective coating that is applied to the child’s oral cavity during sleep.

If a child is grinding his teeth as a result of stress or high nervous excitement, the help of a psychologist or neurologist may be needed. This is very important. If the stress persists, bruxism will not go away. Without expert help, this period can sometimes last for decades.