Does your child grind their teeth or clench their jaw at night? This nocturnal habit can lead to tooth sensitivity and enamel erosion, but wearing a night guard can help prevent your child from damaging their teeth, jaw and bite. Our Sugarbug Dental team offers mouthguards that are custom crafted for the most comfortable fit for your child.
Why Do Kids Grind Their Teeth?
If your young child is a chronic bruxer (grinding teeth throughout the night) they have sleep-related bruxism. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) confirms that teeth grinding is common in children while they sleep, likely because the jaw muscles contract during sleep leading to teeth grinding. Chronic bruxism in children often arises from psychological factors, family history and environmental triggers. Bruxism in families is often hereditary and sometimes environmental from sharing a similar upbringing.
Tips To Help Your Child Avoid Teeth Grinding
-Help your child develop relaxing bedtime rituals.
-Make sure your child stays hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day.
-Give them a calming, nightly massage to reduce stress.
-Enlist one of our pediatric dentists to monitor your child’s teeth as they continue to grow.
Sleep Bruxism VS Awake Bruxism
Awake bruxism is often the most common habit and consists of clenching the teeth without grinding them together. With sleep bruxism, your child won’t even realize they are grinding their teeth while they slumber. Psychological indicators can be noted to watch your child’s smile. For example, if your toddler suffers from extreme separation anxiety, they can develop sleep bruxism when they start school. Sleep bruxism also shows up in children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), migraines, parasomnias and snoring.
Call Today!
If your child suffers from sleep bruxism, wearing one of our custom nighttime sleep guards can protect their growing teeth and bite. They deserve to have the essential, quality sleep their developing bodies need. To learn more, call our team in Oxnard, CA at (805) 985-2400 today!