Why does a child grind his teeth in his sleep? Causes and treatment

In early childhood, neuropsychiatric disorders such as tics are quite common.
The scientific name is tic hyperkinesis. Parents immediately notice changes in the baby’s behavior. Uncontrolled movements of certain parts of the body or certain muscles in a child cannot but become a cause for concern and questions arise:

• Where did the disease come from?
• Could it have been prevented?
• What to do?
• How to treat?

This list can go on for a long time. One thing is clear - there is certainly cause for concern. And the first thing you need to do is find out as much information as possible about this neurological disorder.

So what are nervous tics in children and what is their danger?

General concept of ticks

This is the most popular pathology of the children's nervous system at an early age. It is simply impossible not to visually notice the manifestation of a tic, although some parents manage to go for weeks or even months without seeing any oddities in their child’s behavior.

Tics are involuntary, stereotypically repetitive, sudden or jerky movements that are the result of spontaneous contraction of individual muscles or groups of muscles.

At the initial stage of development of the disorder, attacks occur quite rarely, and repetitive movements do not cause much concern or problems. The child can even restrain or control them. However, attempts to control the tic cause him:

• internal discomfort;
• feeling of anxiety;
• mental stress.

When control over oneself weakens, tic manifestations occur, and the baby immediately receives obvious relief.

Nervous tics in children are usually detected between the ages of two and fifteen years. In the period of 6–8 years, tic hyperkinesis most often develops, while at 14–15, in approximately half of the cases it disappears spontaneously.

Fun fact: Boys are five times more likely to have the disorder than girls. From a scientific point of view, this is explained by the more stable psyche of female representatives.

What is bruxism and its manifestations

Bruxism is a pathological condition that occurs due to excessive clenching of the jaws.

By the age of 5 years, teeth grinding occurs in almost 50% of children. This occurs involuntarily and is associated with a spasm of the masticatory muscles. Usually the pathology occurs at night, in attacks of 10-15 seconds. Attacks may recur during the daytime. At the same time, daytime teeth grinding causes more concern for parents, since it is more noticeable.

Reference!

Isolated cases of teeth grinding are not dangerous and do not require intervention. If the attacks become chronic, you need the help of a pediatrician.

In addition to grinding teeth, a child may experience the following manifestations of pathology:

• headache;
• daytime drowsiness, lethargy;
• neck pain;
• tearfulness;
• tooth sensitivity is the result of abrasion and damage to the enamel;
• restless sleep with frequent awakenings;
• congestion in the ears.

Dentists identify a triad of symptoms in childhood bruxism (up to 5 years). These are erosive wear of baby teeth, malocclusion and narrowing of the dental arches. Teeth grinding usually goes away on its own when a child reaches puberty. Teeth grinding is a rare occurrence among teenagers and young adults.

Types of nervous tics in children

Each child has his own individuality, and therefore nervous tics that arise for one reason or another are different.

Tic manifestations generally have two types:

1. Motor (motor). They are detected by spasms of individual muscles, their groups or movement of limbs and other parts of the body.
2. Voice (vocal). They can be recognized in the form of frequently repeated individual sounds, syllables, exclamations, words and even phrases.

Both groups are divided into simple and complex tics. Everything is clear here. A simple form - one short movement or sound, a complex one - several muscle groups are involved, if there are vocal disorders, progress is also observed in them.

Main manifestations

Localization of tic movements most often occurs in the facial or neck muscles. Over time, they can spread from top to bottom. The most common examples of simple childhood motor tics are:

• frowning;
• blinking;
• squinting;
• moving the wings of the nose;
• drawing in air through the nose;
• twitching of the corner of the mouth;
• turning or tilting the head;
• shrug;
• flinching;
• twitching of limbs;
• flexion or extension of fingers;
• snapping fingers.

Vocal tics are manifested by coughing, throat sounds, sniffling, spoken syllables or exclamations. This is a meaningless sound that interferes with speech and gives the impression of stuttering or stuttering. If no measures are taken to eliminate them, the situation will only get worse. Tic movements also progress and reach a new level in the form of:

• grimace;
• head tossing;
• touching various parts of the body with hands;
• contractions of the abdominal muscles or diaphragm;
• squats;
• bouncing.

All of the above nervous tics in children are not all manifestations of the disease. They can be individual and atypical. It all depends on the child’s level of development, his character and temperament, sensitivity to environmental stimuli and a number of other reasons.

Features of the course of the disease

Initially, the child exhibits motor tics, and if the situation worsens, then vocal tics join them. However, there are cases when hyperkinesis begins with sound tics, which significantly complicates diagnosis and delays treatment.

In severe cases, several types of spontaneous movements are observed simultaneously. Sometimes they are accompanied by vocal tics.

Nervous tics in children have their own characteristic features, which make it possible to distinguish them from other pathologies of motor functions. They can be divided into several points:

1. Self-control. It should be noted that it works only in the early stages of the disease. This means that the child can control his seizures, but over time it becomes more and more difficult to do so.
2. Increased symptoms due to stressful situations. The same tendency is observed at the end of the day due to overwork of the nervous system. The autumn-winter period is the peak of the disease.
3. The child's consciousness is not affected in any way. This fact allows us to exclude the development of epilepsy.
4. Hyperkinesis does not occur during sleep. This feature is relevant in the presence of vocal tics and confirms the absence of pathologies of the upper respiratory tract.
5. A nervous eye tic in a child can at first be mistaken for developing conjunctivitis, but soon everything becomes clear.

The following pattern has been noticed: the earlier the disease appears in a child, the more severe it will be. If appropriate measures are not taken, hyperkinesis develops into a chronic form. In this case, treatment is complicated by the fact that several muscle groups may gradually be involved. Pathological movements move from the head to the lower organs and become more complex, vocal tics are added. Doctors assess them as generalized.

Tic manifestations that arise after the age of ten are almost always classified as transient. This means that they disappear spontaneously and unnoticed, just as they appeared. They are also called transient. They do not require special participation from the medical side.

Causes

Despite countless years of research into nervous tics in children, doctors have not been able to come to a common point of view regarding the provoking factors. But among many theories, it was found that the most likely are the consequences of traumatic influences. These include:

1. Fright.
2. Fear.
3. Divorce of parents or forced separation from one of them.
4. Change of environment.
5. First of September. The first days of school are extremely stressful for a child.
6. The birth of a second child in the family.

Heredity also plays an important role in the occurrence of tics. Children whose parents experienced hyperkinesis in childhood are much more likely to develop it too.

An unstable situation in the family or immediate environment that a child encounters in kindergarten, school, or in the yard is, of course, the main provoking factor. Children's relationships, communication with peers and adults, can be of a very diverse nature. They often contain conflict situations, and they serve as the starting point of nervous disorders.

Organic brain damage can also cause nervous tics in children. Sometimes they are a consequence of the following events:

• severe maternal pregnancy and difficult childbirth;
• traumatic brain injury;
• a previous neuroinfectious disease.

Separately, it should be mentioned that the reasons for the development of tics may be hidden in a lack of any vitamins, minerals or trace elements.
Since the child’s body is just being formed and is very unstable to external influences, hypovitaminosis can cause disturbances or malfunctions of the nervous system. It has been noticed that the disease progresses in waves. If the child is in a calm, balanced mental state, then tic movements may decrease to minimal manifestations or not be observed at all. At the same time, any stressful situation, fear or anxiety, serves as an impetus for exacerbation of the condition and intensification of tics.

Is the pathology dangerous and what could be the consequences?

Bruxism does not lead to serious health problems, and certainly does not threaten the development and life of the child. Most of all, parents are worried about this phenomenon, and they begin a hospital quest in search of the cause. As a rule, the child grows out of this problem without the participation of a doctor, if it is not chronic. This is due to the development of the chewing apparatus, eliminating problems with the adenoids and normalizing sleep.

If teeth grinding occurs frequently over several months, then a doctor’s consultation is necessary. Otherwise, bruxism can lead to the following consequences:

• thinning of tooth enamel and increased sensitivity of teeth;
• problems with fillings, they will crumble and crack;
• malocclusion;
• loosening of baby teeth;
• headaches and decreased concentration;
• overload of the maxillofacial joint;
• spasm of the facial muscles.

Excessive tooth wear increases the risk of bruxism during adolescence and young adulthood. Also, severe uncontrolled spasm of the jaws can lead to dislocation of the temporomandibular joint.

Diagnostic procedures

Before starting any treatment, you need to have your child examined by a specialist. After the initial examination, the neurologist refers the patient to undergo electroencephalography. It makes it possible to identify the following indicators:

• local cerebral disorders;
• foci of pathological activity;
• analysis of the state of brain activity.

Repeated studies allow you to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy. A biochemical blood test is mandatory. If the doctor deems it necessary, the child may be sent for an MRI.

Identifying nervous tics in young children, establishing their causes and prescribing adequate treatment is the task of a neurologist. But the direct responsibility of parents is to ensure a comfortable stay for the child at home, in an educational institution or on the street. It is necessary to find out the factors that pose a threat to the baby’s psyche and eliminate them in any way.

Treatment

Very often, children who are diagnosed with tic hyperkinesis do not need special therapy. It is absolutely meaningless, and only correction of the patient’s lifestyle helps. However, if the tics become generalized, then treatment cannot be avoided. But which method the doctor chooses depends on the severity of the disease, age and physical characteristics of the child.

An integrated approach to treating tics in children is possible. It includes:

1. Activities aimed at properly organizing the child’s daily routine. Protecting him from stress, anxiety and other troubles.
2. Drug-free therapy. This complex includes a visit to a psychotherapist, physiotherapeutic procedures, and reflexology.
3. Treatment with medications.

At the initial stages of the development of tics in young children, only routine measures are sufficient for visible positive dynamics. Rationally organized time for activities and rest, timely going to bed, proper nutrition, and exercise are the key to a positive outcome from a nervous disorder.

Family psychotherapy is of no small importance. If the situation in the family has given impetus to the development of tics, then you need to try to correct it. Under no circumstances should the child witness quarrels or scandals. It is necessary to create a calm, trusting environment so that the child feels loved and protected. You should not pull back or remind him of his nervous disorder, as this will only aggravate the situation.

Good results in the prevention and treatment of tics are provided by educational games using fine motor skills, art therapy, and relaxation. The most commonly used physiotherapeutic methods to combat this disorder are:

• biofeedback method;
• audiovisual stimulation method;
• acupuncture;
• laser therapy;
• ozokerite applications;
• massage of the cervical-collar area;
• electrosleep.

In cases where drug treatment cannot be avoided, sedatives are first prescribed.
They have a general calming effect, remove nervousness and irritability. If the expected effect is not observed, the doctor prescribes tranquilizers. Their scope of action is the relief of emotional stress, anxiety and fears. With progressive tic hyperkinesis, which is not amenable to gentle treatment, more severe drugs are used. These include antipsychotics and antidepressants. Unfortunately, these medications have a lot of side effects and are used only as a last resort, only as prescribed by a doctor and strictly following the dosage. The main indicator for use is the safety of the child, taking into account the special sensitivity of the not yet formed organism, including the nervous system.

Treatment of tics in children is usually carried out on an outpatient basis, since hospitalization can be an additional source of anxiety. For the same reason, drug therapy is avoided by injection.

Diagnostics

Most children who have this problem during night or daytime sleep do not even know about it. Therefore, most often, parents diagnose the problem.

Some signs:

• Teeth grinding when your baby sleeps;
• Complaints of pain in the face or jaw after waking up in the morning;
• Pain when chewing.

If you experience any of these signs, contact your dentist to examine your mouth for wear and damage. Spray air and water on teeth to test sensitivity.

If damage is found, the dentist may ask your child several questions, such as:

• How do you feel before bed?
• Are you worried about anything at home or at school?
• Are you angry with someone?
• What do you do before bed?

The exam will help the dentist understand whether the cause is anatomical (misaligned teeth) or psychological (stress). Select an effective treatment plan.

Possible consequences

Nervous tics in children of different ages, regardless of the cause, are signals that not everything is all right with the child, his mental state is at the limit of his capabilities, and he needs immediate help. If the irritant is removed in time, the tic manifestations go away spontaneously.

What happens if you leave everything as is? There are several possible scenarios here:

1. Epilepsy. Tics may be symptoms of the early stages of this severe neurological disease.
2. Severe neuroses, psycho-emotional disorders. Untreated hyperkinesis progresses in the child’s body, causing new manifestations of the tic condition. Lack of qualified help leads to the development of depression and other critical conditions.
3. Tourette's syndrome. Although this mental disorder is not a consequence of parental inactivity, its clinical picture necessarily includes both motor and vocal tics.

Even if hyperkinesis disappears on its own after a week without any consequences, it is necessary to go to the doctor and undergo diagnostic procedures. This is a guarantee of the child’s health, and is done with the aim of eliminating the above diseases.

What about worms?

There is a common belief that teeth grinding may be a sign of a parasitic disease. This is due to the fact that preschool children often suffer from helminths. And it is precisely at this age that teeth grinding is typical. Also, this assumption was explained by the fact that when infected with helminths, salivation increases. This provokes clenching of the jaws, which leads to teeth grinding. But according to specialist research, this is just a coincidence. A direct connection between the presence of worms in a child and bruxism has not been identified.

Adaptation in society

Children, as we know, are cruel by nature, so it will be very problematic for a child with obvious manifestations of hyperkinesis to adapt to a new team. But it’s not his fault that the nervous tic happened to him. When communicating with adults, it is very important for him to feel a tolerant attitude. And if at home they constantly focus attention on this topic and reprimand the child, believing that he is doing this on purpose, the situation only gets worse.

Parents should be completely on the side of the child, and he should feel this not only in words. This is what it should look like:

• all conversations about nervous disorders, including tics, should be prohibited, especially in the presence of a baby.
• do not focus on the problem, behave freely and naturally.
• conduct an explanatory conversation with teachers or educators of the team that the child attends, and call on them for assistance.
• choose a suitable leisure activity for your child. Single active sports, such as skiing or swimming, are encouraged.
• provide nutritious and varied nutrition.

During adolescence, a teenager’s body is unpredictable, and also undergoes hormonal changes. If at this stage nervous tics are also detected, then this can generally turn into a personal tragedy. First of all, self-esteem suffers; the child withdraws into himself, does not want to communicate with anyone, and is fixated only on his illness.

The parents’ task is to consider the threat in time and take all measures to eliminate it. Even if the tics do not go away on their own, there is every chance that properly selected therapy or medication will help get rid of them. In any case, you can and should strive to live a full life.

Prevention Tips

To prevent a child’s nervous tics from developing into more serious mental disorders over time, all possible measures must be taken to prevent them. You don't need anything supernatural to do this. It will be enough not to forget that the baby sees the behavior of the parents and people around him, draws his own conclusions and evaluates the events taking place due to his level of development.

The psyche of a child at an early age is unstable and vulnerable, so any clarification of the relationship between parents in a raised voice is a stressful situation that can lead to tic manifestations. It is in the family that the child should feel support and understanding. This is his fortress, in which, if necessary, he can hide from all his fears. If there is no such relationship, then the risk of developing tics is quite high.

Children living in a calm, friendly environment are very rarely susceptible to nervous tics. To avoid having to treat the consequences of mental imbalance in a child, it is enough to create comfortable conditions for him. They are as follows:

• avoidance of anxiety and stressful situations;
• healthy, full sleep;
• high-quality and healthy food, a ban on fast food and overly sweet and fried foods;
• compliance with the daily routine, proper organization of rest;
• dosed computer use and TV viewing;
• maximum exposure to fresh air;
• classes in sports sections that match the interests and temperament of the child;
• inadmissibility of overwork.

In rare cases, raising the younger generation does not involve punishment. They are certainly necessary, but within reason. Physical impact is immediately excluded. Only moral methods of influence are acceptable. The child must clearly know what offense he is being punished for and how he should have done the right thing. At the same time, you should assure the child that punishment does not affect his love for him. Only in such a situation will he draw the right conclusions and receive minimal nervous shock.

Even if the appearance of nervous tics in a child could not be avoided, it should be remembered that this is not the worst thing that could happen to him. Modern medicine, combined with parental care and attention, can work wonders.

Physical discomfort

The first and most common reason why a child does not sleep well at night is uncomfortable sleeping conditions: hot or cold, dry or too damp air, “scratchy” synthetic bedding or uncomfortable pajamas, a heavy blanket, a crumpled lumpy bed, a wet or dirty diaper.

How to proceed:

• create a healthy microclimate in the sleeping room - with a temperature of 18-20 ºС and a humidity of 50-70%;
• choose cozy cotton pajamas according to the season - warm or light;
• make and carefully straighten bedding made of natural material before going to bed;
• if necessary, change the mattress, blanket or pillow to a more comfortable one, preferably made from hypoallergenic materials;
• Use high-quality diapers and change them promptly.

The second reason in this group is pain of various origins. This may include colic or painful teething in infants, aching muscles and joints during rapid growth in older children. Infants cannot talk about their sensations, other children complain of pain, but sometimes it is quite difficult to “calculate” its cause and clear localization.

How to proceed:

• if a baby has colic, the nursing mother should reconsider her diet and select a suitable formula for the artificial one;
• massage itchy gums when teething with a chilled teether or a finger wrapped in gauze; if necessary, apply an anesthetic gel;
• Relaxing baths and light massages at night help to cope with muscle pain in children;
• Pain of unknown origin requires consultation with a pediatrician.

The third reason is childhood illnesses, especially with high fever. Often, sleep disturbances indicate the onset of the disease. Some children literally “fall asleep,” while others cannot fall asleep, rush around, worry, and constantly wake up.

How to proceed:

• go to the doctor;
• During treatment, alleviate the child’s condition in every possible way: give an antipyretic when the temperature rises above 380C, provide clean, fresh and moist air in the room and rest for the baby.

The fourth reason is thirst, hunger or excessive heaviness in the stomach.

How to proceed:

• Children under one year old can “legally” wake up for night feedings; denser feedings at night and maintaining a comfortable microclimate in the room help reduce their number - this way the baby will not wake up from thirst. The latter is important for any child;
• For older children, offer a light but quite filling dinner without invigorating drinks - cola, strong tea, cocoa;
• Follow your meal schedule.

The fifth reason why a child sleeps poorly at night is allergies, digestive and metabolic disorders. Most often, this is an allergic reaction to salicylates, an upset stomach after eating unusual or stale foods for dinner, or manifestations of a lack of calcium in the child’s body.

How to proceed:

• carefully analyze your child’s diet and remove everything that causes a negative reaction;
• as an experiment, temporarily exclude salicylates - food additives with tartrazine E 102, citrus fruits, tomatoes;
• to check whether the child receives enough calcium, you can give it to the child in tablets in a prophylactic dose - this often improves sleep and is especially important if the baby receives a lot of vitamin D, which requires a combination with calcium.