Is it unusual for children to grind their teeth when they sleep?

As a parent, you are happy to see your child sleeping deeply. However, one day, you see children grinding their teeth while sleeping. At this point, what will you do? Quickly find a cure for teeth grinding in children? In fact, this is a common condition in young children and has an easy cure. 

According to experts, about 38% of children have a habit of grinding teeth at a certain age. Usually, children from 3.5 to 6 years old will most likely have this habit.

Causes children to grind their teeth while sleeping

Experts have yet to identify the "culprit" of this situation. However, some of the following reasons could be the cause of teeth grinding in children:

1. Children grit their teeth while sleeping is due to anxiety

Negative emotions such as stress, anxiety ... can cause children to grind their teeth while sleeping. This action by the body can be a mechanism to cope with these emotions.

2. Children grit their teeth due to teething

Teething has also been linked to teeth grinding habits in young children. The reason is that the act of grinding the teeth can help relieve the pain.

3. Deviation of the bite joint in the child

Misaligned joints can cause discomfort when the jaw muscles are closed. Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between occlusal deviation and teeth grinding. About 12.75% of children have both of these problems.

4. Babies grinding their teeth while sleeping can be caused by allergies

Another study demonstrates that allergies can cause children to grind their teeth. Researchers suspect that teeth grinding may help children reduce discomfort caused by allergies.

5. Pinworms

A study shows that children infected with pinworms often have a habit of grinding teeth. The reason is that this parasite will release a toxin that causes the body to be stressed, leading to a habit of grinding teeth.

6. The child's body reacts to certain drugs

Children taking medicines such as antidepressants and antipsychotics can increase the risk of teeth grinding in young children.

Signs that babies grind their teeth while sleeping

Some of the following signs can help parents detect teeth grinding early in their sleep such as:

Chewing food becomes difficult because the child's teeth hurt when chewing

The child's teeth were chipped even though they did not fall or have had an accident

Children often say that they have a sore jaw, earache, and pain all over the body

You can hear teeth grinding when your baby sleeps

Children often have dull pain in the forehead.

How long does child bruxism usually last?

Most children will quit the habit of grinding teeth when they grow up and when their teeth come out permanently. However, there are cases where older children also experience grinding teeth while sleeping. This may be due to anxiety and the child will get rid of it if the worry is removed. Sometimes parents only discover the state of grinding teeth when the child has dangerous complications.

What are the risks of children grinding teeth while sleeping?

Some problems can occur when babies grind their teeth while sleeping for a long time such as:

The pulp is protruding

State of tooth decay in children will become worse due to continuous tooth abrasion

A fracture in the jaw area

Grinding your teeth can cause the tooth to lose its enamel, which in turn becomes more sensitive to temperature

The grinding of teeth can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder

Teeth can be damaged due to the constant pressure from grinding.

Solution for the problem of babies sleeping with teeth grinding

There are a number of methods you can help your baby treat their teeth grinding when they sleep through the following methods:

Young children are more likely to experience stresses related to study and friends. Try to create some activities that relax your child, especially before bedtime. Some activities you can do are have an informal conversation with your baby, take a hot bath, and tell your baby's story before bed. Make these activities a habit because it can help children grind their teeth less while sleeping.

Pay attention to the child's life to find out the causes of stress and find ways to resolve this problem. If your child has learning problems, you can help them with subjects where they are having trouble.

If your child has tooth or gum pain, you can place a bag of warm water on the cheek to relieve the pain.

Ear infections can cause babies to often grind their teeth to relieve pain. You can take pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, you should only give this to your child if he is younger than 6 months old and must give the correct dose.

Pacifiers can help reduce discomfort while it's time to break the habit of grinding teeth. These nipples can help calm babies when they are anxious but should not be used for a long time as they can lead to dental problems.

Babies with irregular teeth may have difficulty closing their mouths and will often grind their teeth. If this is the case, you should take your child to the dentist for treatment.

Yoga and meditation are ways that many people around the world use to reduce stress. You can have your child try these methods.

Important things to keep in mind when caring for your child

1. Give your child a balanced diet

Sleep-grinding babies are often associated with poor nutrition, calcium and magnesium deficiencies. This can be the cause of teeth grinding. These substances support the functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, a lack of calcium and magnesium can lead to a habit of grinding teeth. To avoid this, add milk, spinach and dark green vegetables to your child's diet.

2. Have your child use a mouth guard

This is a device that is placed inside the mouth to prevent two teeth from touching each other. You can let your baby use it before bed and remove it the next morning. However, before use, you need to consult a dentist.

3. Create an exercise routine for your child

Exercise can help reduce stress. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, a hormone that naturally reduces pain. When the body is free from stress, the habit of grinding teeth will also decrease.

If you've tried all of the above and your baby's teeth-grinding habits persist, take him or her to the dentist. Tooth grinding will go away as a child gets older. Therefore, do not worry too much if your baby has this condition. The best way to prevent teeth grinding is to make sure the child is not under stress.