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New mothers are in for lots of new experiences with their babies. Some are normal while others may not be. If you notice your little one constantly moving his/her mouth while sleeping and there movements are accompanied by sounds, it is possible that your toddler is grinding his teeth, a practice that is quite common and referred to as Bruxism in the dental jargon. Approximately 2-3 out of every 10 children are known to grind their teeth while sleeping and this is definitely not a cause for alarm. To know more about this continue reading.
While experts are not able to pin point the exact reason, they mention that it could be because of one or more of the following causes:
As already mentioned, teeth grinding is not uncommon among children and usually stops by the time they get their permanent teeth that is by the time they turn 6. Almost all the grinding happens at night, though there are a few who do it during the day too.
In most of the cases, bruxism does not have serious side effects. In some cases, it could cause the enamel to be eroded or the tooth to be chipped. It can sometimes cause headaches and earaches in some children. Moreover, constant grinding can also cause pain in the face and jaws. Most children outgrow the habit before any serious damage is done.
In case you wish, you could consult a dentist to check for wear, cavities or fractures, or if your child complains of pain in the face/jaw every morning or finds it difficult to chew food. The dentist will spray air and water on the teeth to check for any unusual sensitivity.
If the dentist finds some damage in your child’s teeth he may ask few questions to your child like:
This exam will help the dentist diagnose reason for teeth grinding. He will ascertain whether the cause is misaligned teeth or is it psychological i.e. due to some kind of stress. After analyzing the reason for teeth grinding he will come up with a treatment plan that is appropriate as well as effective for your child.
As already mentioned, bruxism is not a cause for worry, but the sound of teeth clenching night after night may not be a pleasant one. So, how can it be controlled?
Mothers with toddlers often encounter experiences and situations that they have never dealt with earlier which become a cause for worry. Sometimes, neighbors and friends can add to the worry by giving wrong information. When you find yourself in a situation and are not sure on how to handle it, it is best to consult a pediatrician and get some expert advice. Bruxism, in most of the cases is a minor problem that need not make you press the panic button. But if the grinding continues regularly even after your kid is 6 years or more, you might want to take it seriously. Some experts even say that children who drool a lot and talk in their sleep are known to clench their teeth. Some say that it could be genetic. So, put your worries to rest and think of ways to pamper your child to make him/her sleep tight and drift off to dreamland. That way clenching might not pop in to worry you.
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