Children who are victims of bullying at school are more prone to bruxismthan the others. A new study published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation suggests that teens who are bullied in school are more likely to grind their teeth while they sleep. This correlation could help parents spot earlier when their children are experiencing bullying.
Dr. Nigel Carter of the Oral Health Foundation, an English association, looked into the phenomenon based on the experiences of 300 Brazilian adolescents. Participants aged 13 to 15 victims of bullying at schoolwere four times more likely to suffer from bruxism at night, compared to other study participants of the same age. Young people who were mentally assaulted were 65% more likely than others to grind their teeth.
Bruxism, or involuntary clenching of teeth, is a nighttime disorder that occurs in teenagers or some adults. It is often linked to psychological stress.
Recognize the early symptoms of bruxism
This annoying habit can cause over time more or less serious damage to the health of the teeth: degradation of the enamel, migraines, hypersensitivity and tooth wear, breakage or even loss of teeth, intense oral pain …
While grinding your teeth may seem trivial, it can be a sign to watch out for in helping to identify cases of bullying at an early stage, according to Dr. Nigel Carter.
How to recognize the first symptoms of bruxism? “A dull or constant headache or a sore jaw when you wake up is the first symptom of sleep bruxism,” observes the expert on the Oral Health Foundation website.
Read also:
Clenched jaws: we massage, we knead, we soften
Bruxism: how to relax your face
