Does teeth grinding (bruxism) affect children differently than adults?

Bruxism, teeth grinding or clenching the jaws, can occur in children as well as adults. It often happens during sleep and can be caused by stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked.

Symptoms include a dull headache, sore jaw or teeth that are painful or loose from severe grinding. Your dentist can fit your child with a mouth guard to protect the teeth during sleep.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is basically the same in children and in adults, Although it is less common in adults, adults are more likely to suffer from associated jaw damage or pain. Most children outgrow teeth-grinding.

The symptoms of teeth grinding are the same in children as in adults. However, the reasons this disorder may develop are different. Bruxism is common in children. They may begin teeth grinding in response to pain brought on by earaches, teething, and growth of the jaws and teeth. For most, this disorder goes away before they reach adolescence.