Bruxism

Many children and adults today gnash or grind their teeth when they are in a deep sleep or while awake and under stress. This condition is known as bruxism which comes from the Greek word “brychein” which literally means gnashing of the teeth.

Most bruxism occurs in children under five years of age although older children and adults can suffer from it too. It is not always exactly understood why bruxism occurs in different individuals as it may be a physical or psychological problem.

Many times children may have jaws that are not properly aligned and settle into misplacement when they relax during sleep. Bruxism in children is also related to their growth and development in different parts of the head and mouth as teeth may fit improperly.

The Pediatric Dentist for Children's Dental Care

It may also be directly related to stress that a child is feeling. Many times bruxism in children is something that goes unnoticed as it usually occurs at night time. However, other family members may complain about the obvious noises that come from the child as it can be very loud and annoying.

Bruxism is not always bad on teeth although the child may wake up in the morning with head or earaches. In more extreme case of bruxism, the teeth enamel may wear down, the teeth may be chipped or the child may experience increased sensitivity in the teeth. The best thing to do for bruxism is to see if you child grows out of it.

You may also want to talk to you child and get a sense of how they are feeling before they go to bed. Are they feeling worried or stressed about something in particular? Is your child angry with someone?

You may as well want to take a look at your child’s activities before bed to see if there is something that they are doing that may relate to the bruxism. If bruxism is occurring in adults, that person may benefit from seeing a professional who will be able to help them cope with the stress and anxiety that they may be experiencing.

Often times, medications that induce a more peaceful sleep may be helpful in relieving bruxism in adults. In the case of either a child or an adult a dentist can make a custom made mouth guard that will not only protect the teeth from grinding but will reduce head and mouth aches.