Is teeth grinding a problem only among adults?

Adults are not the only people who grind their teeth. Children can also suffer from teeth grinding, also called bruxism.

People who grind their teeth or clench their jaws may suffer from the following:

• headache
• sore jaw
• frequent toothaches
• facial pain
• worn or cracked teeth or fillings
• loose teeth
• earache
• insomnia

If you think your child is grinding his teeth, talk to his dentist. The dentist will be able to diagnose bruxism by looking for unusual wear spots on the teeth and assessing related symptoms.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is common in children as well as adults. As many as 2 to 3 out of 10 children will grind their teeth, often at night. Most children grind their teeth for a relatively short period of time, and eventually outgrow it. As with adults, stress can lead to jaw clenching and tooth grinding, so this may be good time to talk with your child and help him with any situations that may be causing anxiety, such as adjusting to a new home, school, or teacher.

A relaxing pre-bed routine, such as a bath, may help prevent nighttime tooth grinding. However, children may grind their teeth for other reasons as well, including earache, teething, or the top and bottom teeth are not aligned properly. If your child is grinding his teeth, it’s a good idea to bring him to the dentist to determine the cause.