Hospital for Children

Parent Education - Caring for Kids

Treating Teeth Grinding In Kids

Some Doctors Say Stress Is Grinding Factor

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Adults aren't the only ones grinding their teeth at night. Teeth grinding, medically known as bruxism, occurs in children, too.

In many children it can be a sign of growing. It can occur in very young children when their baby teeth come in and it can also happen when a child begins to get his or her permanent teeth. They typically outgrow it, but for some children it can be an ongoing problem, according to Dr. Edward Grace, director of the Brotman Facial Pain Center and director of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Maryland Dental School.

Unless a parent hears the child grinding his or her teeth at night or watches a child rub a sore jaw, dentists will typically be the ones to notice which child grinds or bruxes his or her teeth at night.

The exact cause of bruxism is not known, though it can be attributed to stress, even in children.

In some rare cases, a dental guard will be used in children to stop the grinding. Other ways to prevent bruxism include ensuring that a child relaxes before bed, possibly with a bath, a back massage or soothing music.

This page was last updated on: May 22, 2007.

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