As a parent there is no greater happiness than seeing your baby sleeping sweetly, and when you look at your sleeping baby, you want to hear his even breathing rather than the sound of squeaky teeth grinding. But the truth is that many young children have the phenomenon of teeth grinding, clinically known as teething disorder. What is teething disorder The so-called teething disorder refers to sleep or emotional stress, habitual grinding of teeth or daytime also unconscious grinding of teeth, often due to trigeminal nerve dysfunction, resulting in strong persistent non-functional contraction of the innervated chewing muscles. Studies have shown that nearly 30% of children under the age of 5 years old grind their teeth. Causes of teeth grinding Although many studies have been done, the exact cause of teeth grinding is not well understood. Some children may grind their teeth due to a poor bite between the upper and lower teeth; others due to localized pain, such as earache or tooth pain. Of course, emotional tension and stress are also another reason, such as worrying about grades on school tests or changes in life rhythms, such as a new teacher or moving to a new home. Sometimes even arguments with parents or classmates can be stressful enough to cause teeth grinding to occur. Some children grind their teeth because they ate too much for dinner, after going to sleep there is still a lot of undigested food in the gastrointestinal tract, the whole digestive system to “overtime”, not only the gastrointestinal tract digestion, absorption process continuously, chewing muscles are also mobilized involuntarily contraction, thus causing teeth grinding. The same reason why eating snacks before bedtime causes teeth grinding. Consequences of Teeth Grinding In general, teeth grinding does not damage your baby’s teeth. While some children may report a headache or earache the next day, many do not have any observable discomfort. However, that annoying squeaking and rattling sound at night can certainly be very annoying to you or other family members. In some extreme cases, nighttime teeth grinding can wear down the enamel of your child’s teeth, and in some cases, can lead to broken teeth, heat sensitivity, or cause pain in the face and jaw. If a child has chronic teeth grinding it may lead to TMJ disorders. Diagnosis of Teeth Grinding Many children who grind their teeth are not aware of the condition themselves, so it is often the parents or others who sleep with the child who notice the problem. Some of the phenomena that parents can observe are: annoying grinding sounds in bed at night morning complaints of pain in the face or jaw sucking fingers, biting nails or chewing on pencils or toys biting on the cheek mucosa If you think your child is grinding his teeth, it is recommended that he have a dental visit to have his dentist check to see if the enamel is intact, if there is any unusual wear or chipping of the teeth, if there are any allergies to air and water sprays, etc. If there is damage, then the dentist may ask him, “How do you feel before you go to bed at night? Are you nervous at home or at school? Ever get really angry at anyone? What do you do before you go to bed?” These tests can help the dentist identify whether the child’s teeth grinding is a physical (i.e., anatomical) dental problem or caused by psychological tension, so that an effective treatment can be administered. Treatment of Teeth Grinding Most children get better at grinding their teeth as they get older, although parental observation and regular follow-up visits at the dentist are still very important. If a child’s teeth grinding is causing pain in the face or jaw or is damaging the teeth, then the doctor may recommend a special nighttime dental protector. Although these nighttime braces can be uncomfortable at first, the child will adapt to them over time, thus protecting the teeth. How to help children who grind their teeth Whether the grinding is physiological or psychological, children should do a little relaxation training to control teeth grinding before going to bed: for example, do not eat before going to bed, take a hot bath before going to bed, listen to a piece of soft music or read a book for a while. If the teeth grinding is caused by emotional stress, then you should find out what is causing your child’s discomfort and help him. For example, if a child is reluctant to go to kindergarten and is worried about being separated from mommy and daddy, then reassure him that mommy and daddy will definitely pick him up after class and will be there in time to help him if he needs anything. If the situation is more complicated, such as the need to move, then you should discuss it with your child and help him to eliminate his fears. If you are worried about your child’s emotions, then it is recommended that you see a doctor once. Of course there are some children who cannot control their teeth grinding even though they have been taught to relax. If your child has other sleep problems or is acting differently than usual, it is best to take him to a psychologist for a thorough evaluation to further clarify the cause and treatment. How long does teeth grinding usually last? Usually children’s teeth grinding disappears when they reach puberty, and most children stop having it after they change teeth, because permanent teeth have a better tolerance to pain. Of course, there are some children whose teeth grinding can last well into adolescence. If the grinding is caused by bad moods, then it can last for a long time unless the moods are improved. Preventing Teeth Grinding Since most children grind their teeth as a natural part of their growth spurt, it can be difficult to prevent. Of course, teeth grinding caused by extra food can be prevented by not eating an hour before bedtime. Teeth grinding caused by emotional stress, on the other hand, can be prevented by talking openly with your child and relieving his or her stress.