Teeth grinding, or bruxism, refers to excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw. It is common in children. The first indication is the noise created by your child grinding on the teeth during sleep. Or you may notice wear (teeth getting shorter) to your youngster’s dentition.
Although teeth grinding is often the result of stress in adults, this is not always true for children. If your child’s teeth grinding is not the result of stress, other possible causes include irritation in the mouth, inner ear pressure, allergies, and misaligned teeth.
The good news is that, because a youngster’s teeth and jaws change and grow so quickly, teeth grinding is not usually a damaging habit that requires treatment. Most outgrow it by adolescence. However, if excessive wearing of the teeth is present, our office may recommend wearing a nightguard.
If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth grinding, ask Dr. Josh or Dr. Remya about the potential causes and, if necessary, the possible solutions.
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