As children grow and develop, there are many times that parents have questions about whether the behavior is normal or not and can compare their offspring with others. To put parents at ease, two or three out of every 10 children show signs of bruxism with most outgrowing the condition as they get older, so in this instance, the condition is common.
Defintion
According to Mayo Clinic, bruxism is a condition in which children grind, gnash or clench the teeth together. This may happen unconsciously during the day, and they may grind them together at night, which is a subcategory called sleep bruxism. For many children, bruxism is mild and may not require treatment. Symptoms of bruxism include teeth that are worn down flattened or fractured, worn tooth enamel, ear aches from clenching the jaw together tightly, chewed tissue on the inside of the mouth and indentations on the tongue.
Causes
The cause of bruxism is not completely known or agreed upon. Some children may grind their teeth because the top and bottom teeth are not properly aligned. Other children grind their teeth as a response to ease pain as seen with an ear ache or teething. Stress is another potential cause of bruxism. The nervous tension or anger over worrying about a test, social situation or change in routine can cause children to repeatedly clench their jaws or grind their teeths. Children with hyperactivity issues may also exhibit signs of bruxism.
Effects
There are short- and long-term effects of bruxism when it presents in childhood. Short-term effects include headaches, jaw aches and facial muscle pain, tightness and stiffness in the shoulders, inability of the mouth to open fully, sleeping problems, sore or swollen gums and teeth moving in the mouth. Long-term effects of bruxism include excessive wear and tear on the teeth and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). In some cases, the negative effects of bruxism are on other family members who have disrupted sleep because of the grinding noise.
Treatment
Bruxism in children is a condition that may go away on its own as the child ages. For those who do require treatment, dental visits and parental involvement to monitor the condition is the starting point. If the bruxism leads to facial pain from clenching or damage to the teeth, a night guard can be made and worn during sleep. The guard is made from a mold of the child's teeth. If the cause of bruxism is teeth that aren't aligned properly, a crown or other reconstructive treatment to align the teeth is done. Stress management through counseling or relaxation techniques such as a new bedtime routine with a book or bath may help alleviate stress-induced bruxism.
Considerations
For many children, bruxism appears when there is a mixture of the types of teeth present in the mouth, with deciduous and permanent teeth in place with new teeth trying to come through. The child may feel an imbalance in the mouth and clench the jaw or grind the teeth to get a more even feeling. Bruxism may also be indicative of more pressing psychological and emotional issues. For a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, dentists and medical doctors must be involved.
