My child teeth grinding!

Grinding of teeth or bruxism is remarkably common in children and adults.

For some children, this tooth grinding is limited to daytime hours, but night-time grinding is most prevalent.  Bruxism can lead to a wide range of dental problems, depending on the frequency of the behaviour, the intensity of the grinding, and the underlying causes of the grinding. It is reported in about 20% of children up to the age of 11 years,

In general, parents can usually hear intense grinding, especially when it occurs at night-time, however daytime jaw clenching and grinding can be difficult to pinpoint.

• Bruxism can be caused by several different factors. Most commonly, “bad bite” or jaw misalignment promotes grinding.
• Baby grinding teeth is sometimes a natural reaction. It is the child’s response to growth and development and so it often can’t be prevented. Once the permanent teeth of the child start to erupt, a child gradually stops grinding their teeth. Some other children are grinding their teeth in response to ear ache pain.
• Children tend to brux more frequently in response to life stress.  If the child is going through a particularly stressful exam period or is relocating to a new school for example, night-time bruxism may either begin or intensify.
• Children with certain developmental disorders and brain injuries may be at particular risk for grinding.

Symptoms and signs of teeth grinding may include:

• Sore jaw, unusual wear on the teeth, chipped teeth, headaches
• The child is tired, irritable with poor concentration, mouth breathing and dark circles under eyes
• Bruxism can spontaneously ceases by the age of thirteen in the majority of children.

In cases where the grinding and clenching make a child’s face and jaw sore or damage the teeth, dentists may prescribe a special night guard. Moulded to a child’s teeth, the night guard is similar to the protective mouthpieces worn by athletes. Though a mouthpiece can take some getting used to, positive results happen quickly.