Nothing is more precious to the parents than their kids. The prospect of something noxious happening to the kids can keep the parents awake at night. “Bruxism “can, in some cases, have the same effect on kids. Bruxism refers to the grinding or clenching of teeth, which usually happens at night when the child is asleep. Therefore spotting it could be tricky. Thankfully there are some tools that might help you to identify it.
Sleep in the same room as your child
Most of the teeth grinding goes on at night, and it can be surprisingly audible. Sleeping in your child’s room for one night can really answer your suspicions.
Is your child under stress?
Stress and anxiety are considered to be the main culprit when it comes to teeth grinding. Keep an eye on your child’s mood during the day. Children who are gloomy and exhibit too much aggression are more likely to grind their teeth.
Aches and pains
Does your child complain about headaches and neck pain? Does his jaw hurt a lot? If so, bruxism might be at work. Earaches, caused by ear-infections may also cause teeth grinding.
Do you grind your teeth?
Teeth grinding could be hereditary. If one or both of the parents grind their teeth, there is a good chance that the child might too.
Keep an eye on your child’s medications
The medications prescribed for hyperactive kids to treat their ADHD as well as some antidepressants for kids may cause excessive grinding of the teeth. So, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.
Look at the teeth
Examine your child’s teeth closely. Look for some telltale signs. If the teeth are lose, don’t line up straight or if front teeth appear to be of same size or flat, bruxism might be suspected.
All this information might help but dental visits on a regular basis are the only way to be sure.
