You may hear it when they nap, play quietly, or sleep at night. A grinding sound caused by your child’s jaw being clenched or their teeth grating against each other. When it happens regularly, it’s called Bruxism. It’s very common in children, and most outgrow it without long term issues.
What causes Bruxism?
Bruxism is the repetitive clenching or grinding of teeth. Your child may not even notice there is an issue. It is often family members who hear it first. It is estimated that up to 50% of children experience it at some point.
What it looks like
If your child is clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth, you may notice the tightened jaw while they are quiet or hear a grinding sound from their teeth rubbing against each other.
Other symptoms of Bruxism are:
Your child has pain while chewing
Your child complains of a sore jaw when they wake in the morning
They complain about pain in or around the ear
They have tenderness of the jaw
Your child complains about pain when biting
Your child has regular headaches
You hear jaw clicking when they eat
Why do kids grind their teeth?
Kids might grind their teeth because:
Teeth are not aligned properly
Pain from an earache or teething
Stress or worry
Medical reasons like sinus problems or an injury
The more grinding your child does, the more they can chip teeth, cause sensitivity in their teeth when eating or drinking, or increase jaw pain and/or headaches.
What can you do?
If you notice your child clenching their jaw or grinding their teeth, the first thing you can do as a parent is to make a dentist appointment for them. The dentist can assess if teeth are damaged by conducting a thorough examination and may take x-rays to see further into the tooth.
The dentist will also help by recommending options for preventing further tooth injury. For instance, a mouthguard to wear at night is the quickest solution for preventing teeth grinding. Mouthguards are molded to your child's teeth, similarly to the mouthpieces athletes wear to protect their teeth during sports. They take a little time to get used to, but they prevent damage to your child's teeth and jaw while they sleep.
Other options for helping your child prevent more damage are exercises, a relaxing bedtime routine that includes music and reading, and most importantly, routine dental visits.
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