HABITS THAT LOOK INNOCENT THREAT THE JAW JOINT IN CHILDREN

Trauma to the jaw joint area and the habit of clenching teeth are among the most common causes of joint diseases in children, Demir said, adding that disorders in the closing relationships of the teeth, forward positioning of the lower jaw, habits such as nail biting and thumb sucking are among the factors that threaten joint health. Emphasizing that posture disorders that occur as a result of increased tablet and phone use in recent years and long-term screen exposure may also pose a risk for joint diseases, Demir stated that keeping the head and neck in non-ideal positions for a long time may affect the muscle structure over time and lead to movement restrictions in the joint. 

Children Also Grind Their Teeth

Demir stated that bruxism occurs with strong movements applied to the jaw joint as a result of working the jaw and chewing muscles outside their normal functions, and stated that this situation can occur during sleep or recur during the day. Demir stated that clenching and grinding of teeth may be accompanied by clenching in some children; He said that many factors such as active sports life, exam periods, problems adapting to school, change of home or school, problems between parents, unrest in the home environment, adaptation to the presence of siblings, teething periods, exposure to age-inappropriate content, problems in friendships and unexpressed anger can trigger this habit. 

Recommendations to Protect the Jaw Joint

• Demir stated that habits such as thumb sucking, nail biting, pen biting should be abandoned, and emphasized that in cases where the child breathes through the mouth, the cause should be determined and treatment should be started as soon as possible. 
• Demir stated that the position of the child should be changed slightly when the sound of teeth grinding is heard at night in children who have the habit of clenching or grinding their teeth, and said that measures should be taken to increase the child's awareness in the presence of bruxism that continues during the day. 
• Demir stated that one-sided chewing habits should be prevented and drew attention to the importance of using the right and left sides equally while chewing. 
• Demir stated that the screen should be kept at eye level and head and neck posture should be maintained while using tablets and phones, and suggested that children should be careful not to stay in the same position for a long time and should take a break after 20-30 minutes of use. 
• He added that protective plates can be preferred against trauma to the jaw joint, especially in children who do active sports.