Teeth grinding, or bruxism, refers to excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw, and is common in children. The first indication is the noise created by your child grinding on his or her teeth during sleep. Or you may notice wear (teeth getting shorter) to your youngster’s dentition.
Although teeth grinding is often the result of stress in adults, the same is not necessarily true with children. Other possible causes include irritation in the mouth, inner ear pressure, allergies, and misaligned teeth.
The good news is that, because your little one’s teeth and jaws change and grow so quickly, teeth grinding is not usually a damaging habit that requires treatment, and most outgrow it by adolescence. However, if excessive wearing of the teeth is evident, Dr. Abioro may recommend wearing a nightguard.
If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth grinding, ask us about the potential causes and, if necessary, the possible solutions.
