Teeth Grinding
Our caring pediatric dentists and team offer solutions to help your child stop grinding their teeth at night so they can enjoy a healthier, more comfortable quality of life as well as get the rest they need. When you bring your child to McLean Pediatric Dentistry, we will examine their mouth and discuss lifestyle factors to find the type of treatment that is right for their needs.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, is a common occurrence in children. While bruxism can occur at any time, most children will grind their teeth while asleep. Teeth grinding may occur for a number of reasons, including stress, misaligned teeth, hyperactivity, as a pain response or as a response to certain medications or medical conditions.
Symptoms of Nighttime Teeth Grinding
Common symptoms of bruxism include:
- Grinding noises while your child is asleep
- Pain when your child is chewing
- Complaints of a sore jaw or face after your child wakes up
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Increased tooth sensitivity, especially to temperature
- Chipped and worn teeth
In many cases, bruxism will go undetected and have no ill effects, as many children outgrow this condition. However, until they do outgrow their teeth grinding, you and our pediatric dentists will need to monitor them to ensure that their teeth, mouth and smile remain healthy. The best way to do this is by making and keeping your child’s regular six-month appointments, during which our pediatric dentists will perform a dental exam and recommend strategies or treatments as needed.
Treating Bruxism
The most common treatment for teeth grinding is a night guard. This is a custom oral appliance worn at night to prevent the teeth from touching, which in turn prevents damage from teeth grinding and clenching. We may also recommend strategies to help your child relax before going to bed, as well as ways to find and resolve issues that are causing your child stress.
