The behavior of a baby biting their tongue while sleeping may be caused by various factors, involving both physiological habits and pathological conditions.
On a physiological level, this could be a habitual action. The baby may have inadvertently learned to bite their tongue while imitating adult behavior, especially when adults have habits like teeth grinding or nail biting. Additionally, family genetics may play a role; if parents had similar habits as children, the baby might exhibit the same behavior. Another physiological reason could be a short frenulum, which can affect the normal movement of the tongue, such as difficulty in sucking and choking while breastfeeding, and even impact future language development. Although this may improve with growth, language disorders may persist.
From a pathological perspective, abnormal muscle tone is a significant cause, often seen in children with brain damage or epilepsy, where muscle control issues lead to spasms of the chewing muscles, causing tongue biting during sleep, along with symptoms like drooling and facial deformities. Digestive system issues, such as indigestion, can also be a reason. Food accumulation leading to gastrointestinal discomfort may result in the reflux of stomach contents during nighttime sleep, making the baby feel as if they are biting their tongue. Furthermore, babies with nutritional deficiencies (such as lack of calcium and vitamin D) or allergic predisposition may also experience this condition, requiring corresponding nutritional supplementation and avoidance of allergens for relief.
When faced with the situation of a baby biting their tongue while sleeping, parents should carefully observe and try gentle methods to distract the baby’s attention, such as softly stroking the mouth or helping to retract the tongue. If the situation continues or there are other discomforts, medical attention should be sought promptly to determine the underlying cause through professional examination and take appropriate treatment measures accordingly. Additionally, maintaining good lifestyle habits, such as moderate outdoor activities to promote calcium absorption, can also play a positive role in preventing such issues.
