Tooth Grinding: 4 Ways it Can Impact Your Child's Health and Wellbeing
Posted on: 4 August 2017
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Tooth grinding is quite a common condition which can affect children from time to time. Tooth grinding commonly occurs when your child is asleep, but sometimes you may notice that your kid is starting to grind their teeth during the day. While tooth grinding may not seem like a big deal, it can have a negative impact on your child's health. Below is a guide to 4 ways in which tooth grinding can impact your child:
Tooth misalignment
The baby teeth act as a placeholder for the adult teeth. The pressure generated by constant tooth grinding can cause your child's baby teeth to shift position and become misaligned. If this occurs, it increases the chance that the adult teeth will follow suit. While misaligned baby teeth are not really a big deal, misaligned adult teeth can result in the need for orthodontic treatment. Misaligned teeth may also have a negative impact on your child's self-esteem as they may not feel confident smiling when around others.
Enamel erosion
One of the most serious effects of frequent tooth grinding is the erosion of the enamel which protects your child's teeth. Enamel is a hard layer of mineral which forms the outer layer of the teeth. Once enamel has been eroded or damaged, it will not grow back. Damaged enamel can lead to increased rates of tooth decay and sensitive teeth. The teeth become sensitive because the soft inner part of the tooth which contains nerves and blood vessels becomes exposed. If your child develops sensitive teeth, you may notice that they wince when you feed them very hot or cold foods.
Disrupted Sleep
Because their bodies are growing, young children will typically need more sleep than an adult. Because tooth grinding often happens at night, it may be affecting the quality of your child's sleep. Lack of sleep could have an adverse impact on their performance at school. If you notice that your child is unusually tired, you should ask them about how they are sleeping and if they have any pain in their jaw.
Aching jaw
When you child grinds their teeth, they will also be clenching their jaw very tight. This can result in damage to the jaw muscle and the bone. You may notice that your child has trouble opening their mouth very wide or that they seem to experience pain when they yawn. If left untreated, these problems will only get worse.
If you have any concerns about your child's dental health, you should book an appointment with a dentist today.