Bruxism or gritting of teeth - a phenomenon in childhood is not uncommon. More than 50% of babies under the age of five have this phenomenon. So why do children grind their teeth in their sleep, is it worth it to be scared and how to deal with it?
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 jaw. The child does not wake up from this, his sleep is not disturbed, but parents can succumb to panic. And all thanks to the rumor that goes back many centuries in our country. It says that children grit their teeth in a dream because of 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 clarified the true causes of bruxism. Only one thing is known - from overwork, the likelihood of a creak increases. Nervous stresses, overstrain and a difficult situation at home negatively affect the baby’s nervous system, which is manifested by a chewing reflex. Interestingly, boys are more likely to be bruxism than girls.
If a small child grinds his teeth in a dream for no more than 15 seconds, then there is no reason for concern. Bruxism passes closer to five years, completely disappearing from the life of the baby. A visit to a doctor is required in cases where the phenomenon is constant, lasts 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 the disease in exceptional cases. Most often this is a normal phenomenon that can be eliminated on its own. 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. In the afternoon, you need to ask the child to give the jaw the opportunity to relax, to 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 a dream inconsistently, for several seconds, this does not threaten any consequences. Nevertheless, parents should often pay 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 exclude diseases that can cause bruxism.
If the child grinds his teeth hard and he has reached the age of five, then it is necessary to conduct a conversation with him. Let the baby talk about his anxiety or worries, share his trauma with his parents. You need to convince the child that they love him, that everything is fine and he should not worry. After this, you should spend more time with him, engage in and more often go for a walk. Many children at a subconscious level try to attract the attention of parents, which can cause bruxism. Many children grit their teeth in their sleep because of the constant conflicts between their mother and father. So is it time for adults to change so that the child becomes calm and comfortable in their own family?