A lot of children grind their teeth while asleep. Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, is very common in toddlers and preschoolers. In most kids, it goes away by 6 years. But some may continue to grind their teeth into adolescence and even adulthood.
Bruxism doesn’t mean that your child is having a nightmare or reliving an anxious or frustrating event from the daytime. The most common causes of tooth grinding are pain from an ear infection or teething and improper alignment. Thus, instead of worrying about nightmares, parents should firmly address these causes as they may pose a more serious threat to their children’s health.
Although anxiety and stress may increase tooth grinding in kids, there is no connection between problems of behavior or personality and tooth grinding. Whether your child attends school or receives out of school care, his or her behavior and personality are not predicted by tooth grinding. Usually, tooth grinding also goes away before the permanent teeth are in. But for serious concerns that involve infection and improper alignment of teeth, be sure to check in with your child’s dentist and mention it at each regular dental check-up.
It is also important to train your children on how to maintain good oral hygiene. A clean and wet washcloth may also be helpful for your child to chew on. You can also massage the gums with a clean finger dipped in chilled water. For more relief tips associated with teething, you may also avail of our child care and education services in Canada.
Visit our daycare in Edmonton, Canada today to know more about our programs! We, at Ellwood Daycare and Out of School Care, will always be ready to help!