Question
How to adjust a child’s nighttime grinding?
Answer
Firstly, a child’s nighttime grinding may be due to the presence of parasites within the body. Parasites secrete harmful substances that affect the autonomic nervous system. During the day, with our consciousness stronger, we can control our behavior and actions. However, when we sleep, we may grind our teeth involuntarily. After deworming, this situation will no longer occur. The second reason is mental stress and excessive liver fire, which in traditional Chinese medicine is referred to as “internal movement of liver wind.” The main cause of excessive liver fire is our improper diet, consuming too much fried, spicy, and refined foods, which accumulate heat and toxins in the body. Grinding teeth is a symptom indicating that the body is out of balance. If left unchecked, it can lead to restless sleep, where one is asleep but the mind is awake, even resulting in insomnia. The treatment method involves clearing heat and reducing fire.