Question
My son is eight months old and is teething, but he constantly grinds his teeth. I’ve heard that this is a sign of a calcium deficiency in children. Is this true? How should we solve this problem?
Answer
Teething and calcium deficiency can cause grinding of the teeth and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as sleep problems at night, excessive sweating, and skeletal development issues. You can confirm if your child is deficient in calcium by checking the levels of alkaline phosphatase in the blood and the absorption of calcium. Additionally, calcium deficiency may lead to rickets, bone diseases, night terrors, decreased appetite, indigestion, hindered growth and development in children, and weakened immunity. The causes of grinding teeth may include fatigue, high levels of stress, or worms. There are various treatments for grinding teeth, with the main goal being to reduce the damage to the occlusal surface of the teeth and alleviate symptoms of muscle joints. It is generally recommended to address the cause of the problem and minimize damage.