If you have ever looked in on your sleeping child, expecting the sounds of easy breathing and an occasional sigh that accompany sweet dreams but hear grinding and gnashing sounds, your child may be exhibiting bruxism, the scientific term for what dentists call teeth grinding. Teeth grinding is a very common occurrence. About 30% of babies and children do it in their sleep. But why? There is more than one answer to that question. Known causes of teeth grinding include
o feelings of tension or anxiety
o pain—frequently from earaches or teething, but also potentially from other causes
o malocclusion—dental talk for teeth that aren’t properly aligned
o breathing problems—stuffed noses and allergies are the primary culprits here
o inheritance—if you were a grinder, chances are your kids will be too
o night talking—children who talk in their sleep are more likely to grind their teeth
Some of these causes are preventable or treatable. Some of them are not. Most children will outgrow this habit by the time they reach their sixth birthday.
Now for the inevitable follow-up question: Is teeth grinding harmful for children? It can be, but the effects are usually minor and treatable. Among the possible side effects of teeth grinding are:
o Chipped and flattened teeth: If your child outgrows teeth grinding before his or her adult teeth grow in, this isn’t a big deal. But if it happens later, teeth grinding can lead to more severe consequences, including teeth flattening, chipping and breaking.
o Facial and jaw pain: If teeth grinding persists long enough, children can develop temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease.
o Poor sleep: Grinding can make it much harder for children to get enough restful sleep.
Just because your child will probably outgrow it doesn’t mean that you should treat teeth grinding as anything less than an important issue. If your child grinds chronically, make sure you tell us the next time you visit our office. We will check for tooth damage, determine a course of treatment and prescribe a mouth guard, if necessary, to prevent the more damaging side effects.
o feelings of tension or anxiety
o pain—frequently from earaches or teething, but also potentially from other causes
o malocclusion—dental talk for teeth that aren’t properly aligned
o breathing problems—stuffed noses and allergies are the primary culprits here
o inheritance—if you were a grinder, chances are your kids will be too
o night talking—children who talk in their sleep are more likely to grind their teeth
Some of these causes are preventable or treatable. Some of them are not. Most children will outgrow this habit by the time they reach their sixth birthday.
Now for the inevitable follow-up question: Is teeth grinding harmful for children? It can be, but the effects are usually minor and treatable. Among the possible side effects of teeth grinding are:
o Chipped and flattened teeth: If your child outgrows teeth grinding before his or her adult teeth grow in, this isn’t a big deal. But if it happens later, teeth grinding can lead to more severe consequences, including teeth flattening, chipping and breaking.
o Facial and jaw pain: If teeth grinding persists long enough, children can develop temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease.
o Poor sleep: Grinding can make it much harder for children to get enough restful sleep.
Just because your child will probably outgrow it doesn’t mean that you should treat teeth grinding as anything less than an important issue. If your child grinds chronically, make sure you tell us the next time you visit our office. We will check for tooth damage, determine a course of treatment and prescribe a mouth guard, if necessary, to prevent the more damaging side effects.