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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Related Bruxism And Occasional Sleep Talking
Question: Hello Doctor, My child has been identified as a case of "Bruxism". I have visited couple of dentist and they have expressed helplessness in treating my son's case. I have been told to consult a child psychiatrist for this issue. I have been told that this is a harmless but the way he bites his teeth makes me worry. It is so loud and hard that I wake up from my sleep in the night. I can't really tell you if it causes him any discomfort or even if he is aware of what he does, but it certainly worries me a lot. He speaks a lot in his sleep and all that he speaks is weird and doesn't make sense at all.
Just so you know, we have a family history of dental problems. I just don't want him to undergo dental issues like all others. Diabetes runs in the family too and mild case of depression too.
Please help!
Thanks for your time and attention.
XXXX XXXXXXX
Just so you know, we have a family history of dental problems. I just don't want him to undergo dental issues like all others. Diabetes runs in the family too and mild case of depression too.
Please help!
Thanks for your time and attention.
XXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Polysomnography is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Your child is 9 years old and he has sleep related bruxism and occasional sleep talking. Bruxism requires no drug treatment. One can go for dental bite plate and other mouth guards and splints. It is to prevent any damage to teeth.
There are behavioral therapies to reduce underlying cause like stress and anxiety. Even in the child there can be significant trauma. Relaxation exercises, cognitive behavior therapy, habit reversal technique etc. all can be used depending upon the behavioral profile of the child.
He also has sleep talking. As such isolated sleep talking requires no treatment, but he has associated bruxism also. For better evaluation of sleep related behaviors you can also go for sleep study that is polysomnography. So I here recommend you to visit a child psychiatrist in person and ask for help. He may be benefited by evaluation and therapy by psychologist. Detail assessment requires adequate and significant history, information regarding major life events like death of closed one, separation from parents, birth of a sibling, child abuse etc. and relationship between parents and between parent-child is important.
Dentists can place a mouth guard that can help preventing the damage to teeth.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Polysomnography is advisable
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.
I have read your query and understood your concerns.
Your child is 9 years old and he has sleep related bruxism and occasional sleep talking. Bruxism requires no drug treatment. One can go for dental bite plate and other mouth guards and splints. It is to prevent any damage to teeth.
There are behavioral therapies to reduce underlying cause like stress and anxiety. Even in the child there can be significant trauma. Relaxation exercises, cognitive behavior therapy, habit reversal technique etc. all can be used depending upon the behavioral profile of the child.
He also has sleep talking. As such isolated sleep talking requires no treatment, but he has associated bruxism also. For better evaluation of sleep related behaviors you can also go for sleep study that is polysomnography. So I here recommend you to visit a child psychiatrist in person and ask for help. He may be benefited by evaluation and therapy by psychologist. Detail assessment requires adequate and significant history, information regarding major life events like death of closed one, separation from parents, birth of a sibling, child abuse etc. and relationship between parents and between parent-child is important.
Dentists can place a mouth guard that can help preventing the damage to teeth.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have further query then I shall be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Answered by
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