Is there anything I need to do about my child clenching or grinding their teeth?

Almost all children grind their teeth while sleeping. This is referred to as bruxism, which is habitual but nonfunctional forceful grinding of the upper and the lower teeth together. Sometimes parents may notice wear on their child's teeth (teeth appear shorter). There are several different theories as to why children grind their teeth, including psychologic stress due to new environments, divorce, or changes at school. Other physiologic theories point towards problems with a child's 'bite' or inner ear pressure. Reported complications include attrition (tooth wear), headaches, TMJ dysfunction, and soreness of masticatory muscles. Every child is unique and the reason they grind is likely a combination of several factors that can be discussed with us. 

Fortunately, in most children. the grinding sounds worse than it is. The majority of babies and children that grind their teeth do not require any treatment. If excessive wear of the teeth (attrition) is present, then a mouth guard may be used to prevent further loss of tooth structure. However, most children under the age of seven may not tolerate wearing a mouth guard.

The good news is that most children outgrow bruxism without intervention. The grinding can begin as early as when the first few teeth erupt. These teeth are something new to the baby and they are exploring their new 'toys'. The grinding tends to decrease between the ages of 6-9 and children often stop grinding between ages 9-12, while a few continue bruxing as adults. Mention your child's grinding to one of our doctors so they can check their teeth for wear and any resulting problems like nerve exposure or fractures.