Grinding your teeth, also called bruxism, is the excessive grinding of your teeth or clenching of your jaw (or both). Bruxism is common in children. Most people first notice this in their children when they hear the noise of teeth grinding while the child sleeps. Alternatively, a parent might see the child's teeth getting shorter due to wear.
When we see teeth grinding in adults, we usually attribute it to stress. But this isn't usually the case with children. If your child's bruxism is not caused by stress, you should look at the other common causes, such as mouth irritation, pressure on the inner ear, various allergies, or teeth that are misaligned.
The good news about bruxism in children is that their teeth and jaws rapidly change and grow. Teeth grinding in children usually is not a habit that calls for treatment. Most children outgrow it before they are teenagers. Although, if the excess wearing of the teeth is evident, we can fit your child for a nightguard.
If you feel that your child has been grinding their teeth, please ask us for probable causes and possible solutions.
