Are Your Child's Teeth Giving Them Earaches?
Posted on: 4 December 2018
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If your child has complained of persistent earaches for a while, then you'll have taken them to your GP. Your doctor will have checked for signs of infection or problems in the ear. If they don't find anything, then they may tell you to take your child to your dentist.
While you may not link your child's ear pain with their teeth, your GP knows that this can happen, especially if your child grinds their teeth. Why do teeth give you earaches and what can you do about it?
Grinding and Clenching Makes Ears Hurt
At certain tooth development stages, kids are more likely to grind their teeth or clench their jaws tightly when they sleep. This typically happens when baby or permanent teeth start to erupt. Known as bruxism, this grinding and clenching can affect different areas of the face and head as well as the teeth. The stress of these repetitive actions often gives people ear pain.
So, while you may think that there is something wrong with your child's ears, there isn't. The problem is actually coming from their bruxism. Their ears are simply reacting to the effects of grinding and clenching.
Treating Bruxism May Help
Most kids don't suffer from bruxism for long. This is often a temporary problem that fixes itself during or after the tooth eruption process. Once your child stops grinding or clenching, their ears should go back to normal.
Dentists sometimes simply keep a closer eye on kid's teeth if they have this problem. Grinding can wear teeth down, so dentists want to make sure that this doesn't happen. However, if your child has frequent ear pain that affects their quality of life, then your dentist can take steps to make things more comfortable for them. For example, your dentist may suggest fitting a night-time mouth guard or bite device to your child's teeth. These devices are primarily designed to stop grinding from damaging the teeth, but they can also alleviate pain symptoms.
A mouthguard cushions the teeth and stops their surfaces from touching when they are ground together. As well as protecting the teeth from damage, this can also reduce some of the stresses and pressure that pass into your child's ears and make them ache.
Your dentist may also have other recommendations to fix any ear problems caused by grinding or clenching. To find the best solution for your child, make an appointment for them to see your dentist.