Tooth grinding linked to withdrawn behavior in young children Updated: 6/12/2008 2:00:38 PM Print Article Email Article           New research has suggested that children who grind their teeth are more likely to exhibit withdrawn behavior and do poorly at school. A study that was presented to the Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies this week focused on 1,956 pre-schoolers from low-income backgrounds. It found that 36.8 per cent of children of that age grind their teeth one or more times per week, while 6.7 per cent do so four or more time per week. As the frequency of tooth grinding incidents increased, parents were also more likely to report that their child is withdrawn, reluctant to get involved with others and adjusted poorly to the pre-school environment. Salvatore Insana of West Virginia University, first author of the study, stated: "Although we cannot assume that tooth grinding causes withdrawn behaviors or problems in school, the dynamic relation between tooth grinding and pre-school adjustment indicate that there may be clinical relevance to tooth grinding beyond being a symptom of bruxism." Bruxism is the name given to the clenching of the jaw or grinding of teeth during sleep, which is fairly common as it is not usual for jaws to tense-up at night. It can chip teeth and wear down their protective enamel. If serious enough, it can also cause chronic headaches and jaw disorders. © 2008 Brafton Inc. Enter your ZIP code to compare the savings and benefits offered by the discount dental plans in your area. Take the first step toward a healthier smile and start saving today! > Find my dentist > Find a ZIP code             Additional Articles Warning about smokeless tobacco and oral... Kids need a dental check-up 'every six m... Thumb-sucking 'can lead to dental proble... Dental-themed rap music aims to reach ki... Act fast to repair lost teeth, dentist s... Oral health screenings recommended for e... Problem Child? How to End Bad Behavior F... Maternal alcohol binges increase risk of... Parents advised to tackle childhood dent... New gummy bears 'prevent dental problems... Keep Kids Safe from Online Predators The Role Coffee Plays in Simplifying You... Three Strategies for Simplifying Your Li... Dental decay a problem for California's ... Child tooth decay warning Sugar substitute found to boost babies' ... Concerns raised about dental impact of f... Childhood dental care scheme produces mi... Mother's vitamin D levels affect baby's ... Tooth fairy visits could soon be a lucra...

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