How to stop your child grinding teeth

Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Causes and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Evan Frisbee, DMD on July 29, 2021

Why Do People Grind Their Teeth?

Although teeth grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety, it often occurs during sleep and is more likely caused by an abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth. It can also be caused by a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.

How Do I Find Out if I Grind My Teeth?

Because grinding often occurs during sleep, most people are unaware that they grind their teeth. However, a dull, constant headache or sore jaw when you wake up is a telltale symptom of bruxism. Many times people learn that they grind their teeth by their loved one who hears the grinding at night.

If you suspect you may be grinding your teeth, talk to your dentist. They can examine your mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism, such as jaw tenderness and excessive wear on your teeth.

Why Is Teeth Grinding Harmful?

In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may wear teeth down to stumps. When these events happen, bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be needed.

Not only can severe grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ, and even change the appearance of your face.

What Can I Do to Stop Grinding My Teeth?

Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during sleep. Learn more: Can a night guard straighten your teeth?

If stress is causing you to grind your teeth, ask your doctor or dentist about options to reduce your stress. Attending stress counseling, starting an exercise program, seeing a physical therapist, or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are among some of the options that may be offered.

If a sleeping disorder is causing the grinding, treating it may reduce or eliminate the grinding habit.

Other tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:

Avoid or cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as colas, chocolate, and coffee.
Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.

Do Children Grind Their Teeth?

The problem of teeth grinding is not limited to adults. Approximately 15% to 33% of children grind their teeth. Children who grind their teeth tend to do so at two peak times -- when their baby teeth emerge and when their permanent teeth come in. Most children lose the teeth grinding habit after these two sets of teeth have come in more fully.

Most commonly, children grind their teeth during sleep rather than during waking hours. No one knows exactly why children grind their teeth but considerations include improperly aligned teeth or irregular contact between upper and lower teeth, illnesses and other medical conditions (such as nutritional deficiencies, pinworm, allergies, endocrine disorders), and psychological factors including anxiety and stress.

Grinding of the baby teeth rarely results in problems. However, teeth grinding can cause jaw pain, headaches, wear on the teeth, and TMD. Consult your dentist if your child's teeth look worn or if your child complains of tooth sensitivity or pain.

Specific tips to help a child stop grinding their teeth include:

No intervention is usually required with preschool-age children. However, older children may need temporary crowns or other methods, such as a night guard, to prevent the grinding.

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Bruxism (Teeth Grinding or Clenching) (for Parents)

What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the medical term for grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw. Many kids have it, but most outgrow it without lasting problems.

What Causes Bruxism?

Kids might grind their teeth for a few reasons, including:

teeth that aren’t aligned properly
pain, such as from an earache or teething
stress; for instance, from worry about a test or a change in routine. Even arguing with parents and siblings can cause enough stress to prompt teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
medical reasons, like hyperactivity, cerebral palsy, or some types of medicines

What Problems Can Happen?

Many times bruxism (BRUKS-iz-em) isn’t noticed and doesn’t cause problems. Often, it's more bothersome to other family members because of the grinding sound.

But sometimes it can cause:

headaches
worn down tooth enamel or chipped teeth
sensitive teeth
face, ear, or jaw pain

How Is Bruxism Diagnosed?

Many kids who grind their teeth don’t know they do. Often, siblings or parents are the ones who notice the problem.

Some signs to watch for:

grinding noises when your child is sleeping
complaints of a sore jaw or face after waking up in the morning
pain with chewing

If you think your child grinds their teeth, visit the dentist, who will check the teeth for chipped enamel and unusual wear and tear, and spray air and water on them to check for sensitivity.

If the teeth are damaged, the dentist may ask a few questions to look what’s causing the grinding, such as misaligned teeth or stress.

How Is Bruxism Treated?

If teeth-grinding and clenching make a child's face and jaw sore or damage the teeth, dentists may prescribe a special night guard. Molded to a child's teeth, the night guard is similar to the mouthpieces athletes wear to protect their teeth. A night guard can take some getting used to, but it usually helps quickly.

How Can Parents Help?

Whatever the cause of bruxism, help kids relax before bedtime — they might take a warm bath or shower, listen to a few minutes of soothing music, or read a book.

For bruxism from stress, ask about what's upsetting your child and find a way to help. For example, a kid who worries about being away from home for a first camping trip might need reassurance that mom or dad will be nearby if needed.

If the issue is more complicated, such as moving to a new town, talk to your child about it and try to ease any fears. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor.

In rare cases, basic stress relievers aren't enough to stop bruxism. If your child can’t sleep or acts differently than usual, work with your dentist or doctor to find the cause of the stress and make a plan to help.

Most kids outgrow bruxism when they lose their baby teeth. In the meantime, routine dental visits can help find and treat bruxism.

Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD

Date reviewed: January 2021

The child grinds his teeth in his sleep

Teeth grinding (bruxism) is a common problem in children that causes concern to parents. This phenomenon does not apply to diseases. This is a symptom that signals various failures in the endocrine, digestive and nervous systems of the child's body. Here it is necessary to pay attention to other changes in the behavior of the child. The exact cause can only be established by a doctor after a thorough examination. nine0004

In the article we will try to find out why a child can grind his teeth, how dangerous it is, and what to do in this case.

What is bruxism and its manifestations

Bruxism is a pathological condition that occurs due to excessive compression of the jaws.

Under the age of 5 years, grinding of the teeth is observed in almost 50% of children. This happens involuntarily, and is associated with a spasm of the masticatory muscles. Usually, the pathology occurs at night, paroxysmal for 10-15 seconds. Attacks can be repeated in the daytime. At the same time, daily grinding of teeth gives parents more anxiety, as it is more noticeable. nine0004

Help! Sporadic cases of teeth grinding are not dangerous and do not require intervention. If the attacks become chronic, the help of a pediatrician is needed.

In addition to squeaking teeth, the following manifestations of pathology are possible in a child:

headache;
daytime sleepiness, lethargy;
nine0027
pain in the neck;
tearfulness;
tooth sensitivity - the result of their abrasion and damage to the enamel;
restless sleep with frequent awakenings;
ear congestion.

Dentists identify a triad of symptoms in childhood bruxism (up to 5 years). This is erosive abrasion of milk teeth, malocclusion and narrowing of the dental arches. Teeth grinding usually goes away on its own when the child reaches puberty. In adolescents and young people, grinding their teeth is a rare occurrence.

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Causes of teeth grinding in sleep

Until the end, the exact causes of pathological grinding of teeth have not been clarified. In most cases, seizures occur at night, so sleep disturbances are a common cause. In children, this is associated with hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids, which makes nasal breathing difficult and leads to apnea (suspension of breathing during sleep). Obesity is also a contributing factor. nine0004

Other possible reasons why a child may grind their teeth include:

Incorrect deep bite.
Individual characteristics of the inclination of the lower jaw.
Nervous tension, emotional overexcitation.
hereditary predisposition. nine0004
Neurological or endocrine disorders.
Teething.

Causes and manifestations may vary depending on what time of day bruxism occurs.

Night grinding of teeth

If during sleep you notice several seizures, and at the same time the child behaves restlessly (breathing becomes more frequent, pupils actively move, talks), then the reason is emotional overexcitation. More often this manifests itself in emotionally sensitive children, overly active or with hyperexcitability syndrome. nine0004

Stress can also provoke night bruxism - moving to a new apartment, entering a kindergarten, divorce of parents or frequent scandals at home. In the daytime, the child tries not to show his emotions and tension accumulates, and at night it “splashes out” through clenching of the jaws and grinding of teeth.

In some cases, an ordinary seal, which was installed incorrectly, can become a provocateur. It can interfere with the tight closure of the jaw, and the child is too small to tell about it. Difficulty in nasal breathing and snoring in a child's sleep is a sign of problems with the adenoids. In this case, you need to consult an ENT doctor. nine0004

Grinding of teeth during daytime

During the day, a spasm of the masticatory muscles in a baby may occur due to teething. It is also possible to form a malocclusion, which leads to discomfort and clenching of the jaws. In these situations, you need to show the child to the dentist.

During a stressful situation, involuntary grinding of teeth is possible. Observe when the child has this phenomenon during the day, what precedes it. With frequent attacks, it is recommended to consult a child psychologist or neurologist. Digestive and endocrine problems can also cause daytime bruxism. nine0004

What about worms?

There is a common belief that grinding teeth can be a sign of a parasitic disease. This is due to the fact that preschool children often suffer from helminths. And it is for this age that creaking of teeth is characteristic. Also, this assumption was explained by the fact that when infected with helminths, salivation increases. This provokes the compression of the jaws, which leads to the grinding of the teeth. But according to research experts, this is just a coincidence. A direct relationship between the presence of worms in a child and bruxism has not been identified. nine0004

Is bruxism dangerous and what are the consequences

Bruxism does not lead to serious health problems, and even more so does not threaten the development and life of the child. Most of all, parents are worried about this phenomenon, and they begin a hospital quest in search of the cause. As a rule, the child grows out of this problem without the participation of a doctor, if it is not chronic. This is due to the development of the chewing apparatus, the elimination of problems with adenoids and the normalization of sleep. nine0004

If the grinding of the teeth is repeated often for several months, then a doctor's consultation is necessary. Otherwise, bruxism can lead to the following consequences:

thinning of tooth enamel and increased sensitivity of teeth;
problems with fillings, they will crumble and crack;
malocclusion; nine0004
loosening of milk teeth;
headaches and decreased concentration;
overload of the maxillofacial joint;
spasm of the facial muscles.

Excessive tooth wear increases the risk of bruxism during adolescence and adolescence. Also, a strong uncontrolled spasm of the jaws can lead to dislocation of the temporomandibular joint. nine0004

What to do if a child grinds his teeth in his sleep

Pay attention to when attacks most often occur - during the day, at night, at home or in a public place. Also record other violations in the child's behavior and his health complaints. Seek advice from a pediatrician, pediatric dentist. Pass the necessary tests and go through the examinations prescribed by the doctor.

The following tips will also help to cope with bruxism: nine0004

Adjust the psychological climate at home. Try not to swear with loved ones in front of the child, talk to the baby more often and ask him to talk about his feelings, fears.
Do not load your child with various early development circles.
Organize the right daily routine with obligatory daytime sleep. The nervous system of the child needs a break during the day, even if he himself looks active and does not want to sleep. Take a relaxing bath 1-2 hours before bed and read a book. Active games should be prohibited. nine0004
Review your diet. Add solid vegetables to the menu to provide a load on the chewing muscles.

If the baby often catches a cold, suffers from a chronic runny nose or nasal congestion, then you need to check the adenoids. With a syndrome of hyperactivity and emotional excitability of a child, it is recommended to visit a psychologist or neurologist.

Treatment and prevention of teeth grinding during sleep

There is no specific treatment for bruxism, since this pathology is not an independent disease. The main task of the doctor is to identify the cause of the pathology. This will depend on the treatment plan. To eliminate the grinding of teeth, drug therapy, physiotherapy, correction of the emotional state and dental methods are used, for example, the installation of protective caps on the teeth.

The main methods of therapy: nine0004

Normalization of sleep with the help of sedatives.
Taking vitamins of group B, preparations with magnesium and calcium.
Treatment of adenoids.
Psychological correction - art therapy, music therapy, sandbox. Working with parents in the presence of intra-family conflicts. nine0004

To relieve muscle tension, you can use coniferous baths, massage and exercises in the pool.

The dentist helps to protect the teeth from abrasion by installing a special protective cap. It is made of soft material, so it does not cause discomfort. It can only be worn at night. The most optimal is the manufacture of caps on an individual cast. But you can also buy ready-made ones. This method is only suitable for students. nine0004

Also, in the presence of damage to the enamel and sensitivity, fluoridation and remineralization of the teeth are carried out. If necessary, caries is treated.

An orthodontist can help correct your bite. For this, plates, bracket systems are used. Orthodontic design is selected individually, based on the severity of the problem and the age of the child. Incorrect bite is easy to correct when the jaws have not yet fully formed. Therefore, the sooner you visit a pediatric orthodontist, the better the result will be. nine0004

How to prevent bruxism: advice for parents

The main preventive measure is to create a comfortable, calm and trusting atmosphere at home. Even if you think that everything is fine in your family, the child may think otherwise.

Try to help your child deal with emotions. Good communication with animals, drawing a problem, using toys as interlocutors helps.

Do not ignore preventive examinations from specialists. Treat caries promptly. Try to enrich the child's diet with vitamins, do not chop food. Walk outdoors daily. nine0004

A single grinding of the teeth is not a cause for concern. But, if bouts of bruxism are becoming more frequent, then consult a doctor to identify the cause.

Call right now

+7 (495) 215-58-10

Make an appointment with the doctor

pharmacy and bought antihelminthic drugs.

They were sure that the nightly grinding of teeth, or scientifically bruxism, was a sign of the appearance of worms. nine0004

Doctors today consider this a delusion. But even now, on various forums, moms write in a panic: the child grinds his teeth like that at night, it’s already scary! And they are answered: give anthelmintic, that's all! Or - ignore it! It will just pass!

Both of these pieces of advice are wrong and even dangerous.

Of course, if there are other symptoms (appetite has increased, but the weight does not increase, problems with the intestines, nausea, headaches, brittle nails and hair), you need to take an analysis for the presence of helminths. But in most cases the reason is different. Or rather, there are several of them. And each of them requires the attention of parents. True, you should not worry too much: according to doctors, about half of the children grind their teeth, especially in their sleep. But this problem cannot be dismissed either. After all, grinding your teeth can destroy enamel and even lead to tooth decay. And also in some cases testify to diseases: endocrine and neurological. The main thing is to understand the causes of the creak. nine0004

Causes of teeth grinding in children

What is teeth grinding? These are convulsions, a sharp contraction of the masticatory muscles as a result of tension. The lower jaw hits the upper jaw, moves, and that terrible sound is heard that frightens the parents.

To be honest, the causes of these seizures are not fully understood. But the precipitating factors are well known.

The first reason is the wrong bite. When the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth and strike each other, creating a clicking sound. Relaxation of the jaw muscles does not occur, which is very harmful. In this case, you need to see an orthodontist to prevent curvature of the jaw apparatus. nine0027
The second is overexcitation, stress. The child ran, saw enough cartoons, played enough computer shooters. He fell asleep on his own, but the excitement remained.
The third reason is the presence of adenoids or difficulty in nasal breathing. As a rule, chewing muscles can also be reduced in convulsions from this.
Heredity. Sometimes this muscle contraction is transmitted genetically - from moms and dads. Parents should be asked if they have experienced any of these symptoms.
Neurological or endocrinological diseases. They occur infrequently, but if bouts of grinding teeth last more than 10 seconds and are often repeated not only at night, but also during the day, the child should be shown to the doctor. nine0027
Teeth eruption. Sometimes this process leads to short nocturnal cramps of the masticatory muscles and grinding of the teeth. But with the appearance of a tooth, the creaking should stop.

At night, in sleep

If a child grinds his teeth at night, and at the same time swallows saliva, champs, even talks in his sleep, his breathing quickens, his pulse is most likely the cause of bruxism - nervous overexcitation. This happens especially often in emotionally mobile children, and in boys more often than in girls. nine0004

There are many reasons for anxiety. Perhaps the child was overworked before going to bed. Played outdoor games or watched "horror stories". Or he has problems in relations with others: he went to kindergarten or school and does not yet feel at home there. You have moved to another house or another city. It is even worse if there are tensions between households: dad quarrels with grandmother or mom and dad quarrel. During the day, the child is still holding on, and at night these worries do not allow him to relax, he clenches his jaw, trying to cope with stress. nine0004

Sometimes a creaking sound at night can be provoked by an incorrectly standing, protruding filling - check the child's mouth to see if everything is fine there.

If the problem is in the adenoids, you will notice that the child breathes with difficulty, sniffs, or even sleeps only with his mouth open. And even during the day his mouth is ajar. In this case, you should immediately see an ENT doctor.

During the day

If your baby is under three years old and is grinding his teeth during the day, he may just be teething and this is how he reacts to it. The gums itch, hurt, and the child clenches his jaw to get rid of discomfort. Or he has some kind of discomfort due to the emerging malocclusion. nine0004

If the squeaking does not stop with the teething, you need to see a doctor.

If your child is older, with an overbite, everything is fine, but the daytime creaking does not go away, the child is most likely under severe stress. As a rule, children grind their teeth during the day, they are extremely excitable, with a delicate nervous system. And your task is to help them overcome stress. Perhaps the child will need the help of a neurologist or endocrinologist, whom you should definitely visit with him.

Treatment of grinding teeth in a child

Treatment for bruxism in children is not always necessary. It depends on the cause that causes it, and on the severity of the problem. If a child grinds his teeth for a long time and many times a night or day, the help of specialists is needed.

First, you should see a dentist to rule out malocclusion and other problems with jaw development or dental disease. An orthodontist can recommend special jaw exercises to help relieve tension and relax the chewing muscles. nine0004

A neurologist or pediatrician should then be consulted. If the reason for squeaking teeth is adenoids, the ENT doctor will decide whether they should be removed. If, nevertheless, the child grinds his teeth due to stress, the neurologist will prescribe sedative drops, physical exercises, and develop a daily routine for the child. It happens that it is not possible to finally establish the cause of the squeaking of the teeth or the treatment does not work. In such cases, the child is prescribed to wear a dental splint: it is put on at night to prevent the erasure of tooth enamel and the pathology of jaw development. For wearing during the day, a mouthguard is made, which is almost invisible on the teeth. nine0004 Photo: pixabay.com

Prevention of grinding teeth in a child

The best prevention of a disease is to eliminate its cause. Therefore, excitable, emotional children should be calmed before going to bed. Do not let him run, play outdoor games, cut into computer shooters, watch horror stories on TV - you need to turn it off altogether. Instead, it is better to take a walk before going to bed, read a non-terrible fairy tale, and talk affectionately with the child. And in no case do not scold him and do not quarrel with him. nine0004

A warm bath and gentle massage are good for soothing children. Two hours before bedtime, the child should not be fed. But to give a hard apple to gnaw, a carrot is very good. The jaw will get tired from work.