When we see our kids acting differently than they usually do and exhibiting odd behavior, as their parents, this is a source of parental concern. Just like adults, infants and young children sometimes demonstrate strange habits, causing the caretakers to abandon their guesses. It is given the name infant bruxism or baby’s tooth grinding.
This article focuses on this thing that a lot of people undergo by investigating what the causes are, what the symptoms are, and what the possible treatments are. Knowing the nature of bruxism in infants, parents, and health workers will collaborate to ensure the necessary reassurance is provided so it does not cause any additional discomfort.
What is infant bruxism?
The debate over whether the child clenches or grinds teeth during the initial years of life is called infant bruxism.
Whether the grinding appears during the day or at night, this condition is similar to that of diagnosed patients who hear deafening noises (grinding of the jaws or observing the jaw movements when awake) and those who do so only at night, unwittingly to their parents.
Although infant bruxism might look a bit nerve-wracking at first glance, you need to keep in mind that it is one of the most common actions that children take when they are babies, and, in most cases, the condition solves by itself when the kid grows up.
Symptoms of Infant Bruxism
The most obvious symptom of babies grinding their teeth or clenching them is hearing an audible clatter. However, there are other signs that parents should be aware of:
Jaw discomfort or pain:
A few susceptible children can complain about pain and tenderness in their jaw muscles from continued clenching or grinding of the teeth.
Tooth wear or damage:
Hard grinding can have adverse effects on the teeth, not only in selective cases but in severe conditions. Tooth wear, tooth chips, or tooth cracks, especially to the front teeth, maybe the resultant effects.
Disrupted sleep:
The noise and movements of the jaw can only lead to the child being disturbed from sleeping or the other people in the house complaining about the situation.
Earaches or headaches:
The eardrum can become sensitive to the tension and pressure produced by grinding or clenching, which can sometimes result in earaches or headaches in young children.
Causes of Infant Bruxism
While the exact causes of infant bruxism are not fully understood, several factors have been identified as potential contributors:
Teething:
Once they become teething, experts consider the tension and pressure they feel as the main cause of their teething-induced grinding and clenching.
Stress or anxiety: Protracting teeth among toddlers and young children can occur for several reasons as they learn to cope with stress or anxiety brought on by events like changes in routine, separation anxiety, or other experiences they may face during their childhood.
Neurological or medical conditions:
In some instances, infant bruxing might be conceivably related to some neurological or medical conditions like cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, or sleep disorders.
Malocclusion: Infants may have teething issues or an imbalanced bite that could affect their bite pattern and develop a pattern of grinding their teeth.
Infant Bruxism: An Option of Treatment
As a general rule, infant bruxism is just a transient phenomenon that comes into consideration when the baby is growing and developing. However, if the grinding or clenching becomes severe or causes significant discomfort, there are several treatment options that parents and healthcare professionals may explore:
Monitoring and reassurance:
In the case of infants with mild cases of bruxism, just observing the situation and reacting in favor of this child is all that is needed.
Dental appliances: In more extreme cases, your healthcare team may need a customized mouth guard or splint device to protect your child’s teeth and relieve tension in the jaw area.
Behavior modification techniques:
Parents may even think about using relaxation exercises, e.g., massages or jaw stretches (slow and gentle), to get rid of excess tension and establish better jaw practices.
Addressing underlying causes:
If infant bruxism stems from a more complex underlying situation, such as stress or anxiety, then counseling or therapy (depending on the case) might be able to take care of it. Medication might be an option when necessary and only under the power of the doctor.
It is imperative to make an appointment with a pediatrician, a dentist, or another competent healthcare provider to give the capable person the ability to correctly diagnose and come up with proper treatment recommendations meant for your child’s specific needs.
Conclusion
Bruxism during toddlerhood is rather a widespread condition that many young children all over the world have. On the other hand, it might be difficult for parents to accept the fact that the difficulties of the toddler phase can be temporary. However, the phase resolves itself with the child’s maturity.
On the other hand, if the over-ergonomic work progresses to excessive and painful, a parent or guardian would better get professional help from a pediatrician, dentist, or another medical specialist.
In conjunction with each other, parents and medical staff members can be able to analyze what causes or aggravates infant bruxism and, consequently, bring about a mitigation of the symptoms and the child’s improved well-being.
FAQs
Is my baby’s tooth likely to be damaged in any way if he grinds his teeth as an infant?
Generally, young children’s bruxism is not a bad thing since their baby teeth are expected to fall out and new ones will grow in. While this pressure is necessary for masticating the food, it can harm the enamel by gradual attrition, chipping, or cracking if done excessively. In extreme cases, when you observe tooth loss, ask your pediatric dentist.
A question that often comes to the mind of parents is: how common is infant bruxism?
Infant “bruxism,” if this term makes sense in this sentence, is relatively common amongst small children since it has been suggested that it is experienced by up to 35% of children at some point in their early years.
