Bruxism in children

Bruxism – translated from Greek as “grinding of teeth”. With this disease, the jaws involuntarily clench, as the chewing muscles contract. These processes are accompanied by an audible grinding of teeth, the sound can also resemble creaking. Such attacks can last from ten seconds to several minutes.

During the manifestation of bruxism, the following processes can be observed: slowing or accelerating of the pulse, changes in respiratory rate, jumps in blood pressure.

Bruxism can occur at any age, but is most common in young and school-aged children – affecting 50% of the child population.

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Symptoms of Bruxism in Children

The immediate symptom of bruxism in children, by which the presence of the disease is revealed, is grinding or creaking of teeth. Depending on the force of clenching of the jaw, the audible sound of grinding, by which bruxism is diagnosed, also changes.

The second most important symptom by which the disease can be determined is a slight increase in the jaw muscles - they begin to protrude slightly on both sides of the face. The increase occurs due to the constant work of the muscles, which are in constant tension. It is these processes that can lead to the fact that the baby can experience unpleasant sensations in the jaw area, up to constant pain.

Also, constant work on contracting the jaw muscles can lead to constant pain in the ears, headaches and various discomforts in the facial area.

The difference in pain sensations can vary from unnoticeable and background to noticeable and moderate. But, nevertheless, the presence of unpleasant symptoms will distract the baby from everyday activities.

The most unpleasant symptom of this disease is worn tooth enamel and increased sensitivity of teeth. This aspect concerns both children with baby teeth and those who have managed to acquire permanent teeth. Since they have not had time to get stronger and take a permanent shape. With constant friction, the possibility of the protective layer of teeth (enamel) is increased and teeth become loose. There is a high probability of loss, fractures and partial deformation of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Sensitivity to hot and cold, sour or sweet increases. Even rinsing teeth when brushing with toothpaste becomes problematic for the baby.

Diagnosis of bruxism in children

Bruxism in a child can be diagnosed based on the symptoms. You may suspect the disease if you hear your baby grinding or clenching his jaws involuntarily. There are two types of teeth grinding – daytime and nighttime. In both cases, jaw clenching occurs involuntarily.

Bruxism diagnostics reveals whether extraneous processes are occurring in the child's body. Doctors' practice shows that not only unexpressed internal tension, but also increased anxiety can lead to constant tension of the masticatory muscles.

In some cases, inflammation, which is accompanied by itching in the jaw - periodontosis, can lead to the child trying to soothe the itching in his sleep by "scratching" his jaws against each other.

Also, teeth grinding can occur due to malocclusion.

In any case, as soon as you start hearing an incomprehensible grinding sound that your baby starts making at night, you should consult a dentist and pediatrician. Diagnosis is based on anamnesis. It is necessary to know how long ago the muscle pain in the lower jaw began. It is necessary to examine external changes - in extreme forms of teeth grinding, enamel wear, caries and gum inflammation are possible.

Bruxism is diagnosed using polysomnography, which helps to record the picture of involuntary contraction of the jaw muscles.

Also, carrying out this procedure will help to determine or exclude the presence of the initial stage of epilepsy, in which nocturnal grinding is also possible.

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Treatment of bruxism in children

Before starting treatment of bruxism in children, it is necessary to find out directly for what reasons the disease arose and how long it lasts. The dentist should be directly involved in the treatment of bruxism. However, you should not completely shift the responsibility for the child's treatment to the doctor; it is necessary to carry out complex treatment. The dentist will make a special splint that will prevent the teeth from touching during sleep.

Parents should remember and carry out with their child every day a set of necessary rules for each day.

• If the baby is not eating, his teeth should be in a relaxed state. The lips should be closed, and the jaws should not touch. Monitor this position throughout the day.
• If you notice that your baby's jaw is clenched, tell him about it, as the reaction may go unnoticed. Let him try to relax his jaw.
• Try to reduce the occurrence and development of stressful situations. Talk to your child, perhaps he is worried about some situation at school (for example, an unsuccessful test or a bad grade) or had a fight with friends.
• Make sure that the baby's jaws are loaded with work. The more the jaws work during the day, the less likely it is that teeth grinding will occur in sleep. You can make the jaw muscles work with either toffee or chewing gum.

Prevention of bruxism in children

If your child only occasionally shows symptoms of bruxism, you can take preventive measures to prevent the disease from getting worse.

• If the child does not speak, chew or swallow, the jaws should be relaxed. Only the lips should be closed.
• Before going to bed, the baby should rest. No games that require emotional or physical stress are recommended at least two hours before bedtime. Create a calm environment. Read a book together or watch a cartoon without a dynamic plot.
• Try putting your baby to bed earlier; perhaps an extra hour of sleep will relieve the accumulated tension.
• Do not feed your baby before bedtime. If the digestive system works at night, then the body is overstressed – hence the nighttime teeth grinding. If the baby is hungry, feed him a whole carrot or apple. This food will feed him, and at the same time create additional tension on the jaw muscles.
• Before going to bed, talk to your child – it shouldn’t be an interrogation about grades. Try to just dream or fantasize about imaginary worlds for a few minutes. This will help relieve the accumulated tension.
• Try applying soothing compresses. Just wet a towel with warm water in which aroma oil has been dissolved. Such a soothing complex will help reduce muscle tension and relieve jaw pain.

Prognosis of bruxism in children

It is difficult to predict in advance whether your child will develop teeth grinding. At the moment, it has not been determined what specific cause can lead to nighttime teeth grinding. However, there are special groups of people who experience this disease most often. Thus, you can make a certain prognosis for bruxism in children.

So, the first risk group is those who have sleep disorders. Various nightmares, somnambulism and even snoring can lead to night grinding.

The second risk group is those who have malocclusion, various facial pathologies and diseases of the temporomandibular joints.

The third risk group is aggressive children, those who have to suppress feelings and emotions. And the prognosis of bruxism in children can be confirmed if they are prone to emotional tension and various stresses.