Small children often grit their teeth in their sleep. Such sounds, of course, frighten caring parents. They immediately begin to suspect that something is amiss with the child, that he is ill with something. This phenomenon in medicine is called bruxism. The question immediately arises: is it dangerous, what is it connected with and how to get rid of the gnashing of teeth?
Content
Scientific definition
The unexpected gnashing of teeth in children often leads to anxiety of parents. They believe that the child had worms. This is not exactly the case in fact, although a similar symptom occurs in the presence of helminths in the intestine. If the rattle is long and frequent, then it is necessary to consult a specialist.
With bruxism, besides, teeth grinding in a dream also other symptoms appear:
- chattering teeth;
- pulling saliva in the mouth;
- chomping
Basically, such signs can be observed during sleep in childhood. About 3% of the child population of the entire planet suffer from bruxism. Doctors consider such phenomena a kind of seizures that occur with a certain frequency. These are convulsive contractions that occur in the masticatory muscles. As a result, the contractions of the jaw are compressed and unclenched, which is why the grinding is heard. Such phenomena happen not only at night in a dream, but sometimes in the daytime.
Not only children can suffer from bruxism, the phenomenon also affects adults. Gnash usually last a few seconds or minutes. Doctors believe that babies can grind their teeth due to sleep disorders.
Main reasons
Many experts also point out other reasons why children grit their teeth. Most likely this is due to disorders of the nervous system. Unstable state of the nervous system in a child can cause involuntary gnashing of teeth. Famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky highlights the following The reasons why babies grit their teeth:
- heredity - if one of the parents suffered from bruxism as a child, then the child can also inherit it;
- deficiency of vitamins of group B - their significant deficiency can lead to maxillofacial convulsions during sleep;
- enlarged adenoids - doctors believe that children with enlarged adenoids can have similar phenomena;
- teething - children often want to scratch their sore gums during teething, so they can make characteristic sounds.
Dr. Komarovsky believes that too emotional children can grit their teeth during sleep. And often it is connected with lots of positive emotions per day. He advises parents to keep a diary to record these phenomena. Gnashing teeth at night can occur during periods of full moon or magnetic storms. During this period of time, the nervous system can react in a peculiar way and cause nervous, excitability.
Prevention and treatment
This phenomenon can be observed in almost every child at least once. If the creak is short and rare, then everything will pass by itself. When a child grit its teeth at night for a long time, then it is necessary to consult a specialist. The answer to this question will be able to give two specialists:
- neuropathologist;
- dentist.
Even if the reason for the emotional imbalance of the baby, you still need to visit the dentist. Due to excessive friction by chewing the tooth enamel is erased.The dentist will be able to prevent the erasing of teeth with the help of special tools:
- production of individual caps;
- use of special protective pads.
These funds help protect teeth from injury and erase tooth enamel. If this is due to a lack of vitamins, then it is necessary for the child to choose the necessary complex and soon to cope with the problem. This is mainly due to the lack of calcium or magnesium.
Also the rattle can be caused by maxillofacial pathology and abnormal bite. The child should be shown to the orthopedist, and he will be able to identify a possible problem, correct it.
As mentioned above, children who are too emotional or under stress can often grit their teeth. Attention should be paid to the situation in the house and in other places where the child often has to go. We need to communicate more with the baby and ask him what worries him how he is doing.
Psychologists advise in the evening create psychological comfort in the family. It is desirable at this time to protect him from watching television, computer games, do not scold or punish the child. It would be better if the parents read him a good fairy tale, make the whole family walk before bedtime, listen to calm music or just chat.
It is necessary to organize the day of the child, to relieve him from excessive loads. It is important to be more often in the fresh air and put the baby to sleep 1 hour earlier. Experts have long noted that babies are more likely to grit their teeth because of severe fatigue. Therefore, the task of parents is to organize the daily routine of their child.
Is it dangerous?
If the described symptoms occur frequently, constantly, parents should pay attention to this. Ignoring this phenomenon will lead to unpleasant consequences over time. The number of dental problems include:
- improper development and growth of teeth in a child;
- premature abrasion of tooth enamel;
- hypersensitivity of the gums and teeth;
- caries development;
- chronic and acute inflammation of the paradontal tissues.
In addition, problems with the teeth and gums can also cause problems associated with nervous breakdown. If they are aggravated, then this can cause inadequate development. Pulling stresses always have a bad effect on mental development. If nothing is done, the child may withdraw into himself, he will lag behind his peers. Also, against the background of nervous disorders, other diseases will definitely develop.
With severe fatigue in babies hearing, sight and memory begin to suffer. In addition, this also reduces the immunity and the body soon becomes more susceptible to various infectious diseases.
When a baby has a disturbed sleep pattern, restless and short, it becomes unbalanced and capricious. The whole family suffers from this, first of all, the child himself, as well as his parents. To prevent serious consequences will help timely diagnosis and treatment.
Gnash teeth and worms
Officially, medicine does not confirm the link between the gnashing of teeth in a child and the presence of worms in his intestines. In practice, it is noted that after a course of anthelmintic therapy, most children stop gritting his teeth. Also improves the overall health of the child.
Chemotherapy with chemicals is harmful because they are toxic. Natural remedies are the safest for children's health, therefore it is better to use traditional methods. Pumpkin seeds and wormwood are very effective in treating. The course of treatment is about 1 month, then you need to take a break and repeat it again if necessary after 4-5 months.
You can not treat the manifestations of symptoms of bruxism frivolously. Timely diagnosis and treatment will not lead to more serious consequences. will save tooth enamel and will not adversely affect the development and growth of the baby.