has also been documented.<\/span><\/p>\nBut this doesn\u2019t have to mean that this condition is permanent. Typically, the average age at which the child stops grinding their teeth is around <\/span>six years<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Does Grinding Your Teeth in Your Sleep Mean?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The term bruxism refers to a state in which a person <\/span>presses and scrapes their teeth together<\/b>. This usually occurs due to stress and anxiety or crooked or missing teeth.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen your jaw slides left and right, you can hear the typical <\/span>teeth grinding sound<\/span>. It\u2019s associated with the clenching of the chewing muscles unrelated to regular teeth functions such as eating or speaking.<\/span><\/p>\nYou should also know that gnashing is primarily unconscious and usually harmless if it occurs occasionally. However, it may lead to severe consequences if it becomes chronic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBruxism can lead to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Fractured teeth<\/span><\/li>\n
- Deep caries development\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Teeth loss<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The habit can also damage:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Bridges\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Root canals\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Crowns<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In severe cases, you might end up needing <\/span>dentures<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nDue to <\/span>jaw clenching symptoms<\/span>, if left untreated, the condition can cause cracks in your tooth enamel or lead to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- A painful sensation in your teeth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Jaw muscle pain\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Additionally, toothaches caused by the recurrent use of your chewing muscles also accompany bruxism. It\u2019s essential to watch out for this symptom because it typically precedes tooth damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMost people learn about having bruxism accidentally during a routine dentist visit. According to dentists, this condition can wear down teeth to varying degrees, leaving the following consequences:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- The dentin might be affected\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Chewing surfaces may become flat and smooth\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- There can be more tooth sensitivity\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Some obturations may break<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
People often learn about their problems from their sleeping partner, who witnesses the grinding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf, for example, you wake up in the morning with pain in your jaw (specifically your chewing muscles), your teeth feel numb, or you have increased sensitivity, it\u2019s more than likely that you suffer from bruxism.<\/span><\/p>\nIn more severe cases, you might wake up with a piece of tooth or a whole tooth on your pillow when you wake up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhy Do I Grind My Teeth in My Sleep<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Bruxism isn\u2019t a disease in itself. It\u2019s most often the result of another health problem, which could include any of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- An abnormal bite<\/span><\/li>\n
- A malpositioned single tooth or misaligned contact between upper and lower teeth<\/span><\/li>\n
- Broken teeth<\/span><\/li>\n
- Temporal-mandibular joints diseases<\/span><\/li>\n
- Stress<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Additionally, a <\/span>child coughing and grinding<\/span> their <\/span>teeth at night<\/span> sometimes go hand in hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAccording to specialists, bruxism leads to tooth removal and related problems with the temporal-maxillary joints due to the pressure exerted on the teeth while grinding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNamely, the clamping force between the two jaws is <\/span>150\u2013180 kg<\/b>, which is<\/span> six times<\/b> stronger than chewing food.<\/span><\/p>\nOther Causes<\/b><\/h3>\n
According to modern medical studies, bruxism can also be associated with certain medical conditions, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Huntington\u2019s disease<\/span><\/li>\n
- Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/span><\/li>\n
- Meningococcal blood infection<\/span><\/li>\n
- Brain injury<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hypoglycemia<\/span><\/li>\n
- Sleep disorders\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Gastric disease<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Furthermore, some doctors associate bruxism occurring during the waking hours with low blood sugar (<\/span>hypoglycemia<\/b>), which may be associated with <\/span>decreased adrenal gland function<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\nAdditionally, teeth grinding is a common condition among people with teeth particularly sensitive to warm and cold and among those who are highly competitive and hyperactive.<\/span><\/p>\nBruxism in Children<\/b><\/h2>\n
Toddler teeth grinding<\/span> is typically a form of pain response and is commonly attributed to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Earache<\/span><\/li>\n
- Teething<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Additionally, teeth grinding occurs more frequently in more sensitive children prone to emotional stress.<\/span><\/p>\nThat being said, the reasons for a <\/span>4-year-old grinding teeth while sleeping<\/span> may include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Stress<\/span><\/li>\n
- Anxiety<\/span><\/li>\n
- Bite problems (malocclusion), etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Other, more specific reasons why children may clench their teeth include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Watching a stress-inducing scary movie at bedtime<\/span><\/li>\n
- The increased excitement from playing computer games<\/span><\/li>\n
- Stress-related to upcoming exams or other appointments<\/span><\/li>\n
- Conflicts with parents, teachers, or classmates<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Some studies also suggest that a <\/span>child<\/span> might be <\/span>grinding teeth in<\/span> their <\/span>sleep<\/span> due to <\/span>worms<\/span>. However, there isn\u2019t enough scientific evidence to confirm this, and not all scientists agree that intestinal parasites are the leading cause of this condition.<\/span><\/p>\nAdditionally, some studies suggest that teeth grinding might be (at least partly) genetically determined and passed down from parents to children. So if at least one parent has bruxism, chances are the child might inherit the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n