One morning, your child comes to you to complain that they have a sore jaw or a headache. These are symptoms of many things so you write it off as a one-off: perhaps they slept in a funny position. But when they come to you again complaining about these symptoms, it’s time to look at them more closely because one of the things they can signal is bruxism.
What is Bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term used to describe teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It typically occurs at night, during sleep and is relatively common in children. 2 or 3 out of every 10 will do it at some point and most will outgrow it but it should not be ignored as it can have some serious effects, that we’ll cover in a moment.
What Causes Bruxism
The causes of bruxism are varied: anything from misaligned teeth and earaches to sleep habits and diet. Kids with an earache, for example, might grind their teeth as a response to the pain in their ear, much the same way as you would rub a sore muscle – the tension created and released eases the pain. The most common cause, however, is stress. Whether worried about an upcoming test or some mean kids on the playground, a new sibling or parents who are arguing, a child feeling stress can manifest that by grinding their teeth at night.
Effects of Bruxism
This is a shortlist of some of the possible – though certainly not occurring in every case – effects of bruxism:
- Worn down tooth enamel
- Flattening of the tooth
- Chips
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- TMD (temporomandibular joint disease)
What to Do?
If you hear your child grinding their teeth at night and suspect that they may be affected by bruxism, it’s time to make an appointment with your dentist. During that appointment, the dentist will be checking for chips or wear in the tooth enamel and sensitivity of the teeth.
Dental Treatment Options
Depending on the severity of the grinding and resulting wear, a nightguard might be recommended. This is an orthodontic appliance, not unlike a guard that a football player might wear, that your child would use at night to prevent grinding, ultimately eliminating bruxism. It might take some getting used to but the benefits are entirely worth it.
If you suspect your child may be grinding their teeth at night, have it checked out by your dentist. It’s best to stop it early to prevent deterioration and wear on the teeth, further jaw and face pain or other side effects. Contact our Scarborough dental office at (416) 291 – 0306 or our Milton dental clinic at (905) 636 – 9770 to book an appointment!
