Therapeutic Massage

Treatment Approaches for Bruxism in Children

Sleep problems are frequent among healthy school going children seen at general pediatric practice. Sleep related problems were reported in 42.7% children that included nocturnal enuresis (18.4%), sleep talking (14.6%), bruxism (11.6%) nightmares (6.8%), night terrors (2.9%) snoring (5.8%) and sleepwalking (1.9%). Bruxism is a destructive habit. It is defined as the nonproductive diurnal or nocturnal clenching or grinding of the teeth.

Bruxism happens in about 15 percent of youngsters and in as many as 96 percent of grown-ups. The etiology of bruxism is unclear. It has been linked with stress, occlusal disorders, allergies and sleep positioning. In addition, type A personality behavior combined with stress is more predictive of bruxism. Because of its nonspecific pathology, bruxism may be difficult to diagnose.

Beside complaints from sleep partners, clenching-grinding, sleep bruxism, myofacial pain, craniomaxillofacial musculoskeletal pain, temporomandibular disorders, oro-facial pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue spectrum disorders are linked. The main clinical signs of bruxism comprise tooth wear, tooth mobility, hypertrophy masticatory muscles, and tender joints. Other symptoms of bruxism are multiple and diverse. They include temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction, head and neck pain, erosion, abrasion, loss of and damage to supporting structures, headaches, oral infection, tooth sensitivity muscle pain and spasm, disturbance of aesthetics, and interference and oral discomfort.

Treatment for bruxism may be simple or complex, depending on the nature of the disorder. Severe bruxism disorders are difficult to treat and their prognoses also may be questionable. Children with bruxism are generally managed with observation and reassurance. Most of the children’s bruxism habit will disappear naturally as they grow up. Adults may be managed with stress reduction therapy, modification of sleep positioning, drug therapy, biofeedback training, physical therapy and dental evaluation. Correction of the malocclusion with orthodontic procedures, restorative procedures, or occlusal adjustment by selective grinding will not control the bruxism habit.

What about prevention? Researchers have found only a weak correlation between different types of morphologic malocclusion such as Class II and III molar relationship, deep bite, overjet, and dental wear or grinding. Moreover, there is no correlation between periodontal disease and bruxism in children. Because the malocclusions’ status in children does not increase the probability of bruxism, early orthodontic treatment (braces) to prevent bruxism is not scientifically justified.

Bruxism is a destructive habit that may result in severe dental deterioration. Bruxism in childhood may be a persistent trait. The occlusal trauma and tooth wear in childhood bruxism can be succeeded by increased anterior tooth wear 20 years later. If your child has significant tooth attrition, dental mobility or tooth fracture may happen. Therefore, it is mandatory to take your child to your dentist for evaluation of bruxism.

Treatment Approaches for Bruxism in Children / Minh Nguyen, D.d.s.

For more information, contact Dr. Nguyen at drnguyen@softdental.com or visit www.softdental.com.

Toenail Fungus Remedy

Fungal infections are common on both fingernails and toenails. Toenails are more prone to be affected by fungus, as these living organisms thrive in dark damp environments available on the foot than on hand.

When inflicted with toenail fungus, the nails can turn yellowish or have brownish discoloration. They may become thick or brittle over time and break or shed on own. Such kind of nails is unsightly, disfiguring, embarrassing and painful most of the times. Toenail fungus can happen to any one. It is a contagious disease that spreads on contact too…

Abnormal pH level of the skin, trauma to the nail, unhygienic feet and decreased immunity of the body permit this disease.

Avoiding toenail fungus -

- The fungus thrives in warm moist areas like spas, swimming pools, showers or locker rooms. If you step on a warm puddle or wet floor, you can pick up the infection. After using such public places, it is ideal to wash your feet thoroughly and dry them well. – Wear cotton socks to absorb moisture from the feet that happens from sweating. – If your socks are damp, take them off and dry your feet before wearing a fresh pair of dry socks. – Wear shoes that have a comfortable fit and allow plenty of air and moisture to pass through. – Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, shoes or any other personal items of those people who have already contracted this disease. – Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every time. Use a towel vigorously to remove any dead skin and improve circulation. – Keep your nails cut short, and don’t use nail polish. – Trim your toenails regularly. Trim them into a straight line and then smooth the edges with a nail file.

Toenail fungus remedy -

- Tea tree oil is a potent natural antiseptic and fungicide that will help fight your fungus. Apply undiluted tea tree oil with olive oil to the affected toe nail. Alternatively you can put few drops of tea tree oil on toenails and rub it thoroughly every day.

- Soak your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toe nails looking healthy.

- Soak your toenails for 15 – 20 minutes in basin full of warm water and natural apple cider vinegar mixed in equal proportion. When done, dry your toenails thoroughly. Use a hair dryer on warm setting to absorb all the moisture in and around the toes.

- Put equal amount of tea tree oil and lavender oil on a cotton ball or swab. Dab it under the top edge of the toe nail and surrounding area 2 or 3 times a day. Tea tree oil is natural antibiotic and lavender will help fight the infection and prevent skin irritation.

- Blend 2 drops of Oregano essential oil with a tsp of olive oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area daily for NOT more than three weeks. Oregano essential oil has antiseptic, antibacterial, antiparasitical, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal properties.

- Until the growth of the new nail is complete, apply apple cider vinegar 2 or 3 times a day.

- Lather AHA creams onto your feet before going to bed. This will flush the rough scaly skin from your feet that is more prone to growing fungus.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.

Toenail Fungus Remedy / Kevin Pederson

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of Natural Home Remedies websites having information on home based natural cures and remedies for some of the most common illnesses and health problems.

Home Remedies For Boils

Boil is a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue in the skin. It starts off as reddened tender area and over a period of time, the area around it becomes firm and hard. The center of the boil full of pus is soft and is filled with infection fighting white blood cells, bacteria and proteins that eradicate the infection. Finally the pus forms a head, which can be surgically opened or drained out through the surface of the skin.

One can not pinpoint the reason for the occurrence of boils. They can be caused by ingrown hair, any splinter or foreign object lodged in the skin or clogged sweat glands that become infected to name a few. Boils can happen to young and old alike. It is one of the common skin infections ranging from the severity of a pimple to an abscess. Boils can be treated either with home remedies or medications. Any painful boil that is not rapidly improving should be seen by the healthcare practitioner.

The primary treatment for boils is heat application in form of hot soaks or hot packs. Application of hot compress increases the circulation to the area, allowing the body to fight off the infection. 10 – 15 minutes of hot compress four to fives times a day will help to bring the boil to a head and encourage easy drainage.

If you skin often breaks into boils, start cleaning your skin with an antiseptic soap. This could lessen frequent appearance of boils.

Regular use of antibacterial soaps helps prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for the hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils.

If hair follicles on the back of arms or in and around the thighs continue to be inflamed, regular use of a loofah can break up oil plugs and build up around the follicles.

Cysts often turn into boils. Cysts can be prevented by avoiding direct pressure or irritation on the buttock area when the hair follicle becomes inflamed. Regular soap and hot water cleaning and drying is helpful.

Some of the home remedies for boils

Juice of garlic or onion applied externally on boils helps to ripen them, break them and drain out the pus.

A cupful of fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with a tsp of lime juice taken on an empty stomach daily treats this condition.

Mix 1 tsp of milk cream mixed with 1/2 tsp of vinegar and a pinch of turmeric powder to form a paste. When applied, it helps ripening the blood boils and heals them without becoming septic.

Gently warm a betal leaf till it becomes soft. Coat it with a layer of castor oil and put it over the inflamed part. Replace the leaf every few hours. Few applications of the castor oil coated betal leaf will rupture and drain out the boil.

Ground cumin seeds in water forming a paste. Apply the paste to the boils with beneficial results.

Steep parsley in boiled water till it is soft and juicy. When hot, wrap it clean muslin or linen cloth and apply it on the boils.

Application of turmeric powder on the boils enables to ripen it and burst.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer.

Home Remedies For Boils / Kevin Pederson

Kevin Pederson manages Home Remedies, a storehouse of home based natural cures on most common ailments and health issues. Read to find why boils occur and how can home remedies help you get relief.