Do you worry when your child makes a grating sound with his upper and lower teeth at night? This is a medical condition called bruxism in children. Children are asleep when they clench their upper and lower teeth and are not aware about it.

A baby usually grinds teeth. When a baby starts to grow his first teeth in the upper and lower part, he grinds his teeth because of the pain caused by teething. It is the infant’s normal response to soothe the pain. Grinding teeth in a baby who’s less than a year old is usually accompanied by drooling.

It is also considered normal for children between 3 to 6 years old to grind teeth while they are growing their set of milk teeth and permanent teeth. The uncomfortable and painful sensation when gums gradually erupt for milk teeth or permanent teeth to come out causes children to grind their teeth. After permanent dentition, children will stop grinding teeth.

Causes

Up to these days, dentists have not given any conclusive statement on the cause of bruxism in children but generally attribute the problem to the child’s growth and development of teeth. Here are some of the causes of teeth grinding in sleep among children.

• Abnormal milk teeth development
• Misaligned set of top and bottom teeth
• School work tension
• Anxiety or fear in the family or school environment
• Behavior manifested by hyperactive children

Symptoms

Not all children grind teeth and this is why some parent worry when their kids do. What are the symptoms that your child may have bruxism?

• Loud teeth grinding in sleep
• Teeth are worn out from too much force from grinding
• Thumb sucking
• Nail biting
• Loss of enamel that protects the tooth
• Flat tooth surface
• Wobbly teeth
• Cracked teeth and filling
• Chewed tissue in the tongue or inside the cheek area
• Sensitive teeth to hot and cold, but usually to cold temperature
• Clicking of the jaw
• Pain in the ear but not caused by ear problems
• Facial pain and sore jaw in the morning

Treatment

Some children outgrow their teeth grinding. However, if you notice that your child has worn out enamel and cracked tooth filling because of persistent teeth grinding, you can consult the dentist for advice. You and your child’s dentist can work together to help your child treat bruxism.

As a parent, make sure that your child gets a good night sleep. Help him relax by giving him a warm bath, and a warm glass of milk before bedtime. You can play a soothing music or read a story to lull him to sleep.

Dentists prescribe a night guard to children who complain of facial or jaw pain and damaged teeth. The night guard is a mouth piece that is fitted to your child’s mouth. It is not a cure for bruxism in children but a protection from the force of teeth grinding in sleep.