Bruxism in children

 Indeliberate grinding of teeth particularly during sleep is called Bruxism. Bruxism in children is frequently observed in sleep. The sound worries parents who consider it as a symptom of some disease or a cause of some current disease. Bruxism is observed in children though, is not restricted to them only. It has also been observed in some animals for example it is typical rat behavior. Unlike human beings, incisors in rat continue growing throughout their life cycle therefore; they need to continuously grind them with an object to keep the size under control and to keep the incisors sharp.

Bruxism in Children   

One school of thought is that it is due to the presence of worms in intestines which disturb the children who grind their teeth to overcome the discomfort. Deworming with appropriately prescribed medicines relieves the discomfort.

Children are only too sensitive to tackle even trifles and as they are highly imaginative they can magnify a trifle into a huge problem if not disclosed to others. It is very important for parents to keep in close contact with them and to listen to their worries very attentively however small or negligible they may appear to them. Keep your children stress free if you want to prevent their Bruxism.

Orthodonostry 

Sometimes teeth of children are misaligned and not only give an odd look but also may cause trouble in bite. To deal with the problem, orthodontistry is a specialized branch of dentistry and deals with correction of the dental impairment both from physical comfort and aesthetic point of view. When the teeth are not in proper alignment, an urge to grind them is triggered through a reflex mechanism with consequent Bruxism in children.

Sleep stage 

There are people who think that disturbed sleep causes Bruxism while there are others who consider Bruxism a cause of disturbed sleep. Whichever of the two is true, there are no two opinions about that the Bruxism in children is a discomfort and needs to be taken care of. Sleeping habit and the sleep cycle too play some role. Bruxism is normally observed during deep sleep therefore it is decidedly an involuntary act and children should never be asked to correct this habit, simply because to be a habit an act has to be voluntary and deliberate. Bruxism should be treated as a reflex response and dealt with as a reflex action. Bruxing occurs only for short periods and from practical point of view is not harmful directly except that it causes the sleep disturbance which indirectly affects the wellness of children.

Some dos and don’ts 

Do not: 

???¡ì?¡ì         Make  the children too conscious of Bruxism, lest you seed an undue guilty feeling in them

???¡ì?¡ì         Impose a quarantine to avoid the unpleasant grinding sound

???¡ì?¡ì         Annoy or infuriate them on any account.

???¡ì?¡ì         Hesitate to see an orthodontist, should you feel the need.

       Do: 

???¡ì?¡ì         Take very good care of their dental hygiene and health

???¡ì?¡ì         Ensure their happiness

???¡ì?¡ì         Ensure balance diet with plenty of fiber and micronutrients