Why do children grind their teeth in their sleep?

Why do children grind their teeth in their sleep?
Why do children grind their teeth in their sleep?

Video: Why do children grind their teeth in their sleep?

Video: Why do children grind their teeth in their sleep?
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Bruxism or grinding of teeth is not uncommon in childhood. In more than 50% of babies under the age of five, this phenomenon is observed. So why do children grind their teeth in their sleep, is it worth it to be scared and how to deal with it?

children grind their teeth in their sleep
children grind their teeth in their sleep

Bruxism itself is not a disease. These are reflexes of the masticatory muscles, which, under the influence of certain factors, begin to contract, closing the jaws. The child does not wake up from this, his sleep is not disturbed, but parents may succumb to panic. And all thanks to a rumor that has been circulating for many centuries in our country. It says that children grind their teeth in their sleep due to worms, which is fundamentally wrong. Of course, with helminths, this phenomenon can manifest itself as a symptom, but quite rarely and mainly in adults.

Science has not figured out the true causes of bruxism. Only one thing is known - from overwork, the likelihood of a creak increases. Nervous stress, overstrain and difficult home environment negatively affect the baby's nervous system, which is manifested by the chewing reflex. Interestingly, boys are prone to bruxism an order of magnitude more often than girls.

small child gritting his teeth
small child gritting his teeth

If a small child grinds his teeth in his sleep for no more than 15 seconds, then there is no cause for concern. Bruxism passes closer to five years, completely disappearing from the life of the baby. A visit to the doctor is required in cases where the phenomenon is constant, lasts for several years and can last for periods of more than one minute. In this case, it is recommended to show the child to a neurologist to identify the cause of the disease.

Fortunately, bruxism speaks of illness in exceptional cases. Most often, this is a normal phenomenon that you can fix yourself. To do this, parents need to give the baby more opportunities to relax, not to overwork him with work. Before going to bed, active games and work should be stopped. During the day, you need to ask the child to give the jaw the opportunity to rest, relax it after eating. The last feeding should be two hours before bedtime so that the body can rest at night.

When children grind their teeth in their sleep inconsistently, for several seconds, this does not threaten with any consequences. But still, parents should pay more attention to the condition of the child's teeth - fangs and incisors are erased from bruxism. It will be useful to take the baby to the dentist and check the condition of the gums to rule out diseases that can cause bruxism.

the child grinds his teeth strongly
the child grinds his teeth strongly

If a child grinds his teeth strongly and he has reached the age of five, then it is necessary to have a conversation with him. Let the baby talk about his anxiety or experience, share his emotional trauma with his parents. Needto convince the child that he is loved, that everything is fine and that he should not worry. After that, you should spend more time with him, study and go for a walk more often. Many children on a subconscious level try to attract the attention of their parents, which can cause bruxism. Many children grind their teeth in their sleep due to constant conflicts between mother and father. So isn't it time for adults to change so that the child becomes calm and comfortable in his own family?

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