For some people, it’s no mystery why they struggle to sleep through the night. Watching something scary on TV, a late-night sugary snack, or maybe too many hours of evening video games. If your child has been unable to wake up rested and recharged, but none of those reasons seem to apply, a pediatric dentist may have an idea – bruxism. Read on to learn what this condition entails and a potential sleep solution the dentist can provide in the form of a night guard for kids in Garland.
What Is Bruxism?
Also known as teeth grinding, bruxism is a quite common childhood problem. Although it is still possible to sleep, their jaws are clenching while their teeth grind against each other throughout the night. Bruxism may be the culprit if your child experiences the following symptoms:
- Waking up tired because grinding affects the quality of sleep
- Waking with a sore jaw
- Popping or clicking jaw sounds throughout the day
- Frequent headaches or facial pain
- Teeth that are chipped, cracked, flattened, worn down, or sensitive
- Their sibling has mentioned hearing grinding noises at night
Pain and fatigue are unpleasant enough, but there are additional serious consequences for those who suffer from bruxism. Human jaws are extremely powerful, so clenching and grinding can put hundreds of pounds of pressure on teeth and jaws during just a few hours of sleep. These forces can lead to damaged teeth and dental work, plus problems with the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, the complex hinge that allows your child’s jaws to move up and down, back and forth, and side to side.
What’s the Solution to Guard Against This Problem?
Clearly, prevention is a much better option for a healthy smile. And one of the simplest and most effective treatments for preventing the damage caused by bruxism is a night guard. They fit over the affected teeth to prevent them from touching directly, saving tooth enamel from injury and wear.
Not only do night guards prevent contact, but they also disperse the biting forces of the jaw over the surface of the guard to greatly reduce their impact. And because they also stop the jaw muscles from clenching tightly, there’s no excess stress placed on the temporomandibular joint.
What Are the Extra Night Guard Considerations for Children?
For the reasons mentioned above, a night guard seems like a slam-dunk solution for adults who grind their teeth. But for children, it’s not necessarily an automatic decision. Why?
- If tooth grinding is mild and appears to be limited to baby teeth, children often outgrow the condition. A pediatric dentist in Garland can let you know if you need to do more than monitor the situation.
- Sometimes it seems like your child’s smile changes daily. Between losing baby teeth and erupting adult teeth, their grin is a work in progress. A fitted night guard might not always be a perfect fit while your child’s teeth are still coming in and shifting position.
- Jaw and facial pain can also be caused by problems with your child’s bite or misaligned teeth, and that might mean that an orthodontic consultation is in order.
So, a night guard for kids in Garland could be just what the dentist ordered to benefit your child’s sleep and smile. But the wise choice is to schedule a dental exam for them to get the best diagnosis and recommended solution. While over-the-counter products are available, a custom night guard will be designed to perfectly fit and protect their teeth when they drift off to dreamland!
About the Practice
At The Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry, we have dental exam rooms that are kid and parent-friendly with Wi-Fi, toys and games, a coffee bar, TVs, and more. We utilize all-digital and safe dentistry for your peace of mind. As your trusted pediatric dentist in Garland, we offer a vast array of services, plus we have an in-office anesthesiologist. We can create a customized night guard as well as an athletic mouthguard, but the first step should be to bring your child in for an exam so we can make sure that’s the best course of action to treat their bruxism. Schedule an appointment on our website or call (972) 364-7472.