Patient's question:
The child usually naps late in the evening, generally between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and also grinds their teeth at night. What kind of assistance is needed: How can the child's deep sleep and teeth-grinding be improved...Doctor's answer:
There are many different reasons, such as excessive mental stress, intestinal parasites, dietary disorders, and so on.Excessive mental stress Many children who watch thrilling fight TV shows in the evening or play excessively before sleep will become mentally tense, leading to night grinding. Some children may grind their teeth again due to being scolded by their parents for being mischievous, which causes suppression, restlessness, and anxiety.
Intestinal parasitic diseases When children suffer from ascariasis, the parasites produce toxins that affect the intestines, slowing intestinal movement and causing indigestion, abdominal pain, and deep sleep disturbances. The toxins also stimulate the nerves, causing them to become excited and leading to grinding. Similarly, pinworms also excrete toxins, causing anal itching and interfering with deep sleep.
Digestive dysfunction If children eat too much in the evening, there will be a buildup of food in their intestines during sleep, forcing the gastrointestinal tract to "work overtime." Due to the heavy burden, this can lead to uncontrolled grinding during sleep.
Nutritional imbalance Some children have a habit of not eating meat, especially those who dislike vegetables. These bad habits result in nutritional imbalance, lacking calcium, phosphorus, and various vitamins and trace elements. The lack of these nutrients can cause uncontrolled tightening of the facial masseter muscles at night, leading to the back-and-forth grinding of the teeth.
Poor dental development If a child suffers from rickets or malnutrition, or has congenital missing teeth, the development of the teeth may be impaired. When the upper and lower teeth come into contact, the grinding surface may be uneven, which is also one of the reasons for night grinding.
Finding the cause of night grinding can help "treat the symptoms accordingly": If there are intestinal parasites, early deworming is needed; children with rickets should take sufficient calcium and vitamin D supplements; a comfortable and harmonious family environment should be provided, with less TV watching in the evening to prevent excessive excitement; the diet should be balanced with both meat and vegetables, and the habit of not eating meat should be corrected. Dinner should be light and not excessive; dental check-ups should be conducted by an oral surgeon to check for improper tooth grinding. If any irregularities are found, the high points of the teeth should be polished, and a dental bite pad should be customized to be worn at night, which can help reduce grinding.