Squeaking, chewing, crunching, scraping—if you hear any of these sounds coming from your child’s mouth as they sleep, they may be grinding their teeth.
Yet, beyond these sounds, is there any other way to see if your child has bruxism, or do you have to check on them each night to see if you hear any unusual sounds? In this article, we’ll answer this question, along with why children grind their teeth and what you can do to help them overcome this habit.
The short answer, though, is this: If you think your child is grinding their teeth, it’s best to check in with a dentist to ensure everything looks okay.
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism, or teeth grinding and jaw clenching, can occur in children for many reasons. Their teeth may be misaligned, or they may do it in response to pain from teething or an earache. It may also have a medical cause, such as hyperactivity or as a side effect of medication.
Beyond these causes, there’s also a universal reason for teeth grinding—which even you may be susceptible to—and that’s stress. In children, this stress may be from worrying about a change in routine or a test. It may also occur due to arguing with their siblings or, perhaps, with you.
Signs of Bruxism
In many cases, bruxism in children isn’t diagnosed, and it doesn’t cause problems. Once the reason for their teeth grinding goes away, they stop grinding their teeth; since it doesn’t last long, there is rarely any damage to their teeth’s enamel.
In fact, the teeth grinding is likely more bothersome to you and other family members than it is to your child doing it, and that’s because of the sound. Your child is sleeping while it occurs, so the sound doesn’t bother them, whereas anyone near your child while they grind their teeth gets to experience the sound first-hand.
However, in some cases, bruxism may cause:
- Worn-down tooth enamel
- Chipped teeth
- Headaches
- Pain in the ear, jaw, or face
- Sensitive teeth
These are generally problems that your child needs to voice in order for you to be aware of them, so keep an ear out for any complaints they have or any sounds they make while they’re sleeping. Furthermore, if you notice that your child is experiencing pain when chewing, this may be a sign of bruxism—or some other dental concern that should also be investigated further.
How is Bruxism in Children Treated?
If you notice that your child grinds their teeth, visit their dentist so that they can check for unusual wear and tear and chipped enamel. During the appointment, they may also spray water and air to check the sensitivity of the teeth.
If damage is detected, your dentist will then look into the cause of the grinding. For example, if it is from misaligned teeth, treating this may help with the grinding.
While most cases of bruxism require no intervention, in some cases, treatment may include a nightguard specific for your child and molded to their teeth. They’re similar to the mouthguards used by athletes to protect their teeth and have a similar purpose—to protect your child’s teeth. If your child wakes up with a sore face and jaw, a mouthguard can also help with that.
How to Help Your Child with Stress-Induced Bruxism
While a nightguard is the standard treatment for bruxism, there’s a lot that you can do to help your child, especially if their bruxism is from stress. Namely, you can help them relax before bed so that their night is full of fun dreams, not jaw-clenching and teeth-grinding.
Here are some things you can do to help your child relax and lower their stress levels.
Create A Relaxing Environment
Everyone can benefit from this step, as a relaxing environment is crucial for telling your body it’s time to go to sleep—especially if it’s part of a nighttime routine.
Take a look at your child’s night routine, or lack thereof, and see if there’s anything you can add to help them relax before bed. For example, maybe add a warm shower or bath, have them listen to soothing music while brushing their teeth, or read a book together. All of these habits can help calm the mind and prepare for sleep, which can help your child fall asleep, stay asleep, and sleep without grinding their teeth.
Talk To Your Child
While the above can help your child relax before bed, depending on the cause of their stress, it’s not always a long-term solution. Instead, if your child is stressed, asking them what is bothering them can go a long way in letting them work through their emotions.
Additionally, if you know what is wrong, you can help them work through it. For example, if your child is stressed about an upcoming test, you can help them craft a study schedule and even study together so that they feel less overwhelmed by the upcoming assignment.
Talk To Their Doctor
While basic stress relievers are often enough to help your child, in rare cases, they may not be. If your child has bruxism and stress severe enough that they cannot sleep or act differently during the day, reach out to your child’s doctor to help determine the cause of their stress and create a plan to help them.
Stop the Grinding: Helping Your Child with Bruxism
Teeth grinding is common in children, and most children outgrow it without any lasting problems. In many cases, the bruxism may go entirely unnoticed unless a sibling or parent notices the sound of teeth grinding during the night.
However, if your child has bruxism severe enough that they experience pain during the day or have worn down their tooth enamel, reach out to their dentist to determine the cause. In many cases, a mouthguard can be created to help prevent teeth grinding.
You can also take additional steps to help ease your child’s stress levels, such as creating a relaxing bedtime routine and talking to your child to learn about their fears and work together to create a solution. Beyond stopping teeth grinding, opening this path for communication will also improve your child’s well-being.
