A child grinds his teeth - the cause and effect of grinding

Bruxism in children is involuntary grinding of teeth during night sleep, caused by spasm of the chewing muscles. This is a chronic disorder, muscle contraction occurs in attacks. The episode usually lasts no more than 10 seconds and can occur several times during the night. Some researchers believe that it is not necessary to treat bruxism, since it will go away on its own by the age of 6–7 years. However, it is important to show the child to the dentist, since this disorder can lead to certain unpleasant consequences for the dental system. In addition, you should take into account the baby’s general health: if there are other neurological symptoms, somatic and systemic diseases, you need to be regularly monitored by specialists.

Forms of the disease

Pediatric bruxism may vary in duration and frequency of episodes. However, it is important to understand that these are exclusively nighttime attacks of teeth grinding.

Bruxism should not be confused with bruxomania - clenching and grinding of teeth during the daytime, while awake. Such movements are usually voluntary and controllable, and in young children they may be associated with a newfound interest in the capabilities of their body when new teeth are just emerging. Experts say that some babies try to cope with the itching when teething. In this case, it is worth showing the child to a doctor, but usually the disorder is temporary and does not require correction.

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Minor defect?

Grinding of teeth in a child may seem like a minor deviation from the norm only at first glance. It’s good when this phenomenon is temporary and at the age of 5–6 years, bruxism in a child goes away on its own. But if your first-grader continues to grind his teeth at night, don't hesitate to seek medical help. Otherwise, even the permanent teeth that will replace the milk teeth will be at risk.

Causes of childhood bruxism

Dysfunction of the masticatory muscles can be an independent disease or a complication of diseases of the oral cavity, as well as other organs and systems of the child’s body. Often, children's bruxism is accompanied by sleep disorders: apnea, snoring, somnambulism, nightmares, interrupted sleep, etc. The causes of muscle spasms can be psychological factors: stress, fear, increased anxiety, depression, etc. In some cases, the child is not aware of traumatic situations and does not shows concern, but he has internal tension. This may be due to a change of place of residence, a conflict in a school group, the birth of a brother or sister, the loss of a favorite toy or pet, etc. Even an excess of positive emotions can cause sleep disturbances.

Nervous system dysfunction can also lead to bruxism. The disease in some cases is accompanied by epileptic seizures, hand tremors, and disturbances in muscle tone (not only in relation to the masticatory muscles).

There is an assumption that night grinding of teeth is associated with helminthiasis. But it has not been scientifically confirmed and explains the problem only indirectly: parasitosis is often accompanied by anemia and a lack of B vitamins, which causes changes in the function of the nervous system and muscle tone, respectively.

Some role in the development of bruxism is given to ENT pathologies: adenoiditis, deviated nasal septum, chronic inflammatory diseases make nasal breathing difficult. Many researchers believe that this leads to impaired muscle tone in the facial and chewing muscles.

Dental causes of bruxism in children include the following:

• malocclusion;
• overestimation of the filling: it does not allow the jaws to close normally, which leads to improper load on the muscles;
• periodontal tissue diseases;
• diseases of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Why is night bruxism dangerous?

Should parents worry and take some measures if their baby grinds his teeth in his sleep? Yes, if:

• Child's age over 7 years

Most often, teeth grinding during sleep occurs in young children, and by the age of seven it usually goes away without a trace. If the child has already gone to school, but the problem remains, it’s time to take measures to eliminate it.

• A large number of repetitions of this condition are recorded or attacks last more than 15 seconds

In these cases, unpleasant sounds made by teeth during sleep may indicate serious disorders in the activity of the nervous system. The sooner the diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed, the greater the chance of avoiding the disease becoming chronic.

• There are signs of tooth decay or gum inflammation

If you do not take action in a timely manner, you may face much more serious problems: gum disease, premature loss of baby teeth, and malocclusion.

Bruxism becomes especially dangerous when baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. It can cause diseases that will lead to the loss of permanent teeth at an early age.

Doctors do not consider bruxism a health-threatening disorder, especially if we are talking specifically about nighttime teeth grinding. It usually goes away with age without any treatment.

If you want to help your baby cope with the problem before he outgrows it, then first consult a dentist.

Signs of bruxism in children

Parents are usually able to suspect bruxism because the child’s sleep is not interrupted during episodes of nighttime grinding and he does not experience significant discomfort. After waking up, the baby may complain of pain in the facial muscles, temporomandibular joint, headaches and dizziness, and ringing in the ears. During the day you may experience lethargy, drowsiness, and increased fatigue. As the disease develops, there may be increased abrasion of the enamel and associated hyperesthesia - sensitivity to food at different temperatures, as well as sour and sweet foods and drinks.

What happens if the disease is not treated?

As already mentioned, isolated cases of bruxism do not pose a health hazard. But regular grinding can cause irreparable harm. Consequences:

• abrasion of tooth enamel;
• increased tooth sensitivity;
• chipping, crumbling, destruction and, as a result, loss of dental elements;
• development of caries;
• injury to the tongue and the inner surface of the cheeks and lips;
• damage to the temporomandibular joint;
• gastrointestinal diseases (due to impaired chewing of food);
• the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome;
• constant headache;
• dizziness;
• facial asymmetry.

Complications of bruxism

Long-term bruxism can cause the following complications:

• damage to the enamel: cracks, destruction of the crown of the teeth, chips and others, which are associated with inadequate loads on hard tissues;
• tooth mobility, premature loss of baby teeth;
• damage to gums and periodontal tissues;
• violation of permanent occlusion associated with early tooth loss, reduction in crown height and other phenomena.

Prolonged attacks of bruxism are accompanied by apnea - a short-term cessation of breathing. This can lead to oxygen starvation and associated unpleasant consequences for the child’s entire body.

Diagnostic features

The doctor determines the fact of night grinding from the words of the child’s parents or close relatives, but it is important to confirm the diagnosis. The following methods are used for diagnosis:

• polysomnography. The procedure involves fixing special sensors on the child’s body that record changes during sleep. Allows you to assess the functional state of the nervous system;
• EEG. Makes it possible to evaluate the electrical activity of the brain, identify epilepsy and other disorders;
• electromyography. This method of assessing the function of the masticatory muscles is based on the impact of electric current. The procedure is painless and allows you to determine excess muscle tone;
• Brooks Checker. Special aligners made from a cast of the patient's jaw are installed overnight, after which the diagnostic plates are sent to the clinic for analysis. This method allows you to determine which teeth suffer from increased occlusal load and whether it occurs in general.

It is important to understand that these measures may not be enough to identify the true causes of the problem. In some cases, laboratory diagnostics are required: general blood tests, determination of hemoglobin levels, mineral content and other components. It may also be necessary to involve other specialized specialists: otolaryngologist, neurologist, psychotherapist, gastroenterologist.

Correction methods

To make an accurate diagnosis, you should make an appointment with a pediatric dentist and undergo an initial examination. Additionally, you may need to consult with other specialists, for example, a neurologist, who will determine the causes of grinding and give practical recommendations on how to get rid of this habit.

The main correction methods are also:

1. Elimination of stressful situations, control over a favorable climate in the family surrounding children. It is important for teenagers to create an atmosphere in which they can calmly discuss any issues with adults without keeping problems to themselves.
2. The daily routine must be brought back to normal, a nutritious, varied diet must be organized. The diet must include vegetables and fruits, solid foods for the development of chewing muscles of the mouth. Preference is given to natural food, but the amount of sweet pastries should be limited.
3. At night, it is recommended to create a routine in such a way that the child can engage in quiet activities.
4. For children, in a playful way, it is necessary to instill useful habits and engage in special facial gymnastics. Any pediatric dentist will give precise recommendations based on the condition of the jaw apparatus.
5. Any illness should be treated without delay. Often pain syndrome becomes the cause of bruxism, when the baby is forced to endure severe, sharp pain.

Prevention

There are no specific methods for preventing night grinding, but there are recommendations that can help reduce the likelihood of such a problem occurring. It is important to accustom your child to personal hygiene measures, brushing teeth at least twice a day. Typically, bruxism occurs when there are problems with teething, when the gums become inflamed. At this time, the baby is worried not only about itching, but also pain. Therefore, for very small children it is recommended to use special teethers and gels with an analgesic and cooling effect.

Bruxism is often the body's response to stressful situations. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude negative emotions and protect the child’s psyche from any such situations. We must remember that even talking in a raised voice with colleagues on the phone can cause stress in a child.

One of the reasons for the development of this problem is improper bite. This can be prevented by creating the right diet, weaning the child off the pacifier in a timely manner and eliminating a number of negative habits, such as thumb sucking. Regular visits to the dentist for examination and identification of problems at an early stage are also one of the first places.

Treatment methods

Treatment of bruxism in children begins with eliminating the causes that caused this disorder. Medication, physiotherapy, psychotherapy are used, and dental defects are corrected.

There is no specific drug therapy for bruxism, since it is not a disease, but rather a symptom of certain disorders. However, the doctor can prescribe medications that correct the function of the masticatory muscles and normalize sleep. These include the following:

• B vitamins,
• magnesium and calcium preparations,
• sleeping pills,
• sedatives.

Warm compresses, pine baths, a course of restorative massage, and swimming can be prescribed as methods to normalize sleep and muscle tone in the absence of contraindications.

Psychological correction has no contraindications and is used in many cases. If you suspect that episodes of disturbance were preceded by stress, you may want to consult a child psychologist. Lack of attention from loved ones, conflicts in the family or school community, life changes, a state of loss - all these are reasons to visit a specialist. Various techniques are used to treat children: art therapy, sand therapy, hippotherapy, dance-movement therapy, etc. In addition, a child psychologist will give recommendations on organizing the child’s leisure time, interacting with him and building relationships within the family, creating a calm and favorable atmosphere in home.

Dental therapy methods are designed not only to cope with the causes of bruxism, but also to eliminate its consequences. So, if there are malocclusions or crowded teeth, premature loss of baby teeth, the doctor will offer the optimal solution. According to indications, treatment of caries and inflammatory diseases is carried out, restoration of damaged teeth with composite materials, in order to get rid of hypersensitivity - fluoridation and remineralizing therapy.

To treat the disorder in children over 10 years of age, protective mouthguards can be used - devices made of soft material that are fixed on the teeth before bedtime and help protect the enamel from friction. You can purchase ready-made mouthguards or have them made at a dental clinic. The second solution is more optimal, since it involves preliminary taking an impression and making a structure exactly according to the parameters of the child’s dentition. Therefore, the mouthguards fit more tightly, which means they protect the teeth more reliably. In addition, the doctor will tell you everything about caring for the aligners and when to replace them.

A pediatric orthodontist will tell you how to treat bruxism in children suffering from malocclusion. As a correction method, he may suggest plates, orthodontic aligners, wearing special devices or braces - it all depends on the specific case, the type of malocclusion, and the age of the child. It is easier to correct your bite when your jaws are still developing.

General recommendations:

• It is important to prevent emotional overexcitation in a child, including those associated with positive emotions. All active events should be planned for the first half of the day;
• communicate and build trusting relationships with your child, maintain a healthy, calm atmosphere in the family;
• Switch your child’s attention from computer games and watching cartoons in the evening to inactive leisure. It is better to devote 2-3 hours before bed to reading books and quiet games;
• Do not feed your baby 3 hours before bedtime. You should not overload your digestive system at night.

Content

1. What caused the development of the disease?
2. Signs of Bruxism
3. Recognition of pathology
4. Treatment of bruxism
5. The most effective methods of treatment
6. Kappa in the treatment of bruxism
7. How can the patient help himself?
8. Children and bruxism - factors in the onset of the disease and its treatment
9. What danger does the disease pose?

What caused the development of the disease?

Factors in the appearance of this unpleasant phenomenon can be various disorders in the structure of the jaw, joint deviations, problems in the field of dentistry and emotional and psychological reasons. Some claim that teeth grinding at night indicates the presence of worms in a person. Of course, such an assumption may turn out to be correct, because if a parasite lives in the body, then people suffer from a lack of B vitamins, which ensure emotional stability.

Psychologists think that neurosis, being under constant stress or depression can lead to the appearance of bruxism, since these conditions contribute to increased tension in the facial and jaw muscles and intense clenching of the teeth. During the daytime, the pathology is controlled by the body, but at night, during sleep, it manifests itself in the form of teeth grinding. If a person is in frequent stressful situations, then bruxism is characterized by periodic reminders of oneself. As for neuroses, the disease manifests itself much more painfully. To get rid of pathology, it is necessary to normalize a person’s nervous state.

In adults, complexes that are laid down at a subconscious level can also become the causes of this disease. Or, if a person is unable to resolve any issue or influence anything in real life, in a dream all his anger and tension, not released, will manifest itself in the form of grinding his teeth.

Bruxism can torment a person who suffers from sleepwalking or apnea, as well as nightmares. Often, teeth grinding becomes a sign of many diseases of the nervous system.

Important: in adults, various dental problems such as malocclusion or poorly installed braces also affect the development of bruxism. Treatment in such a case is prescribed by a dentist.

Signs of Bruxism

The very first and main sign of the disease is very strong grinding of teeth during sleep. This phenomenon lasts from a few seconds to a couple of minutes and occurs repeatedly. The attack comes unexpectedly. The pathology is often accompanied by great tension, restlessness, eating and sleeping disorders, and irritability. Among other things, the disease can cause headaches, pain in the joints and muscles of the face, increased sensitivity of the teeth and the appearance of cracks in them.

Recognition of pathology

First of all, you should consult a dentist with such a problem. Based on the patient's complaints and dental examination, a diagnosis of Bruxism will be made. The factors that contributed to the onset of the disease and its treatment are related to each other. In some cases, it is necessary to conduct a polysomnographic study, during which the contraction of the masticatory muscles of a person in a state of sleep will be recorded in order to exclude epilepsy from the list of causes of teeth grinding.

There is an increase in symptoms with strenuous activity and stress. Very often, children are susceptible to this disease, but there are also a large number of adults - both men and women - who suffer from bruxism.

Treatment of bruxism

With such a pathology, it is quite difficult to establish the causes that influenced the onset of the disease, so completely eliminating the symptoms of bruxism is also problematic, but still feasible. The most important task in treating teeth grinding is to relax the masticatory muscles. Children can often get rid of this disease on their own, but adults should take this problem seriously. If the disease is detected in the first stages, then its treatment will be as successful as possible.

A patient suffering from bruxism should stop clenching and grinding their teeth during emotional stress and begin to fully control their chewing movements. Psychotherapy has a very positive effect on the treatment of pathology; with its help, you can learn to overcome everyday difficulties, causing minimal harm to the nervous system. To put your emotional state in order, you can take walks before bed, read and listen to music that promotes relaxation.

Important: it is also recommended to drink sedative tinctures, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. And magnesium, calcium and B vitamins will help reduce muscle spasm activity during sleep.

The most effective methods of treatment

Methods of increased effectiveness include the use of special drops that prevent the abrasion of tooth enamel and are selected personally for each patient. You can also use a special plastic splint - an overlay on the teeth, which does not allow them to become thinner. Such devices help reduce muscle activity during sleep.

For bruxism, it is also very effective to use mandibular thrusters. Such devices consist of two linings with springs on the teeth. In most cases, retractors are used to eliminate snoring, but they can also cope well with such pathology. Thanks to the device, the tongue and jaw are extended, facilitating easier breathing. Botox is often used in treatment.

Kappa in the treatment of bruxism

Compared to daytime symptoms of the disease, nighttime symptoms cannot be controlled. Therefore, it is very effective to seek help from night guards. The device is placed on the teeth and provides them with effective protection against abrasion. The mouthguard is made according to the exact dimensions of the patient. During an attack, the device takes on all the stress, thereby preserving the enamel and not causing harm to orthopedic structures.

Also, the mouthguard will prevent the teeth from moving and becoming loose. Naturally, the device will not be able to save the patient from the disease, but it perfectly protects the teeth from all kinds of injuries. The use of a mouthguard is part of the treatment element. A custom-made product will never fall out in your sleep.

It is very easy to care for such a device. In the morning it must be rinsed with water and the outer part cleaned with a brush. You can store the mouthguard in a special case or in a glass of water.

Important: periodically the mouthguard should be shown to your dentist to assess its condition and, if necessary, order the manufacture of a new orthopedic device.

How can the patient help himself?

For many people, being diagnosed with bruxism is a complete surprise. After all, not all of us know what kind of disease this is and how it can be cured.

A warm or, on the contrary, ice compress will help relieve severe tension in the jaw muscles. A massage of the shoulders, neck and face or gymnastics with a relaxing effect helps greatly. When doing a massage, you should pay special attention to those places where extreme pain is felt, radiating to the face or head.

You also need to learn how to fully relax before going to bed and remove yourself from possible stressful situations as soon as possible. It is recommended to drink soothing herbal drinks and relax in a warm bath. Before going to bed, you can chew something hard or, say, gum, so that your muscles get a little tired and calm down. You should not eat foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates and caffeine. Spend a lot of time outdoors and play sports.

Children and bruxism - factors in the onset of the disease and its treatment

In stressful situations or tension in the nervous system, children can also suffer from bruxism. Parents begin to worry about how this pathology should be treated and is it necessary at all? If the cause of bruxism is problems with the nervous system, then only a neurologist can help. The disease may disappear on its own as you grow older. A dentist can help correct malocclusion and pathological tooth structure.

If nervous overexcitation is a factor in the development of the disease, then you should definitely think about organizing the child’s daily routine. Children need energetic walks outside. The baby should also start eating solid foods, which will help reduce the high activity of the masticatory muscles. Before going to bed, you should not play lively games, but give preference to taking a warm bath and massage.

Parents may be frightened by severe attacks, the duration of which is quite long. After such phenomena, the baby may complain of pain in the head and teeth. There are also other consequences of the disease in children. The factors influencing the development of bruxism and its treatment will be determined and prescribed by the doctor.

What danger does the disease pose?

Teeth grinding causes thinning of the enamel, and even tooth loss, headaches, soreness in the neck and chewing muscles. Many people with bruxism tend to thicken the jaw bones, which becomes visually very noticeable. People with pathology experience severe psychological discomfort, and this seriously affects their quality of life. Children and young people can get rid of bruxism on their own - the disease will go away on its own, without any consequences. Treatment in such cases is not prescribed, but it is recommended to consult a dentist for ways to prevent damage to the teeth.

Features of prevention

It is difficult to predict the occurrence of bruxism, but children with malocclusion, sleep disorders, and emotionally excitable children are at risk.

In order to prevent such a disorder in your child, you can take the following measures:

• Put your child to bed a little earlier: this will eliminate possible lack of sleep. Adequate sleep will help cope with the psycho-emotional stress accumulated during the day;
• Monitor the condition of the child's chewing muscles: his jaws should be relaxed if he is not talking, chewing or swallowing at this time. Pay attention to the baby if he closes his jaws excessively during wakefulness, involuntarily or consciously;
• provide adequate nutrition;
• Treat dental diseases in a timely manner, contact a pediatric otolaryngologist if you have ENT pathologies.

Pediatric dentists from STOMA clinics treat bruxism in children of any age. You can contact us for qualified help, which includes consultation, production of protective mouth guards, and correction of malocclusions. We guarantee high quality dental services provided to young patients.

How to get rid of bruxism: tips

To reduce the frequency of grinding noise to a minimum, the following steps can be recommended:

1. reduce stress (it is recommended to take a hot, relaxing bath before bedtime);
2. do not drink strong tea and sweet soda in the afternoon, try not to smoke and drink alcohol;
3. get enough sleep;
4. apply compresses to the muscles responsible for chewing;
5. try to get rid of habits that stimulate the chewing muscles (do not chew stationery, nails, do not buy chewing gum);
6. control clenching of your teeth during the day (if you are used to clenching your lips tightly, try holding your tongue between your teeth - this practice will teach your jaw muscles to relax).