Signs Your Child Is Grinding Their Teeth

Does your child experience pain in his jaws? Or are there headaches in the morning to accompany this misery? Grinding teeth can be a sign of bruxism. It can lead to enamel erosion or severe chronic jaw pain.

Early diagnosis of Bruxism can help you eliminate it before it becomes severe. Knowing what to search for would give you preventive factors your child would appreciate later.

Understanding Bruxism in Children

Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of teeth during sleep. While occasional grinding is regular for children, continued bruxism can harm tooth health. At Splendora Pediatric Dental Services, we determine whether treatment is necessary to protect your child’s smile.

Open grinding is not something to worry about, but a long-standing habit will wear away the enamel and result in oversensitivity and sore jaws. However, its recognition at an early stage is a plus, as it prevents future complications.

Common Signs of Teeth Grinding in Kids

• Grinding Sounds – Do you hear that awful scraping or clicking noise when your child is sleeping? That could be one of the most diagnostic signs of bruxism.
• Worn-Down Teeth – Look for flat, chipped, or worn-down teeth: grinding can ruin tooth structure, making the involved teeth more susceptible to damage.
• Jaw Pain or Soreness – If your child wakes in the morning with facial tension or jaw aches, he is probably grinding his teeth very hard at night.
• Recurring Headaches – Since the muscle activity of bruxism causes tension in the temples and jaw muscles, tension headaches may be a consequence.
• Sensitivity Teeth – Is the child sensitive to hot, cold, or sweet food? Grinding erodes enamel and sensitizes teeth.

If you notice any of the above-discussed symptoms of grinding of children’s teeth, it would be best for you to take timely action. You can think of making an appointment with the Splendora Pediatric Dentist for a complete checkup and treatment plan tailored to maintain your child’s oral health.

Grinding teeth: Causes in Children

There can be several causes behind bruxism or teeth grinding in children. Once the primary causes of bruxism have been identified, the ones left to be taken would be the easier ones.

• Stress and Anxiety – Stress, frustration, or anxiety can lead to teeth grinding due to emotional tension.
• Misalignment – Misalignment of the teeth may result in the inevitability of two teeth rubbing against each other.
• Pain Response – Teething pain or ear infections could initiate grinding among children to adapt to pain.
• Sleep Disturbances – Sleep apnea or sleep disturbances tend to make children more prone to bruxism.
• Diet and Lifestyle – Caffeine and some drugs could also cause grinding.

A Splendora Dentist TX can assist in identifying the reason behind the problem and provide the best means to control it.

Effects of Untreated Teeth Grinding

If ignored, chronic teeth grinding can affect oral health in many ways, including:

Dental Problems

• Wear away enamel and create sensitive teeth
• Develop cavities or even fracture the teeth
• Intense pressure on teeth contributes to misalignment

Jaw and Facial Problems

• Pain in TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
• Chronic headaches and muscle stiffness

Wouldn’t it be great to intervene and prevent this from happening? If you take your child to a Splendora pediatric dentist, their future discomfort could be avoided.

How to Help Your Child Stop Grinding Their Teeth

A child who grinds his or her teeth could be suffering from bruxism. There are many ways through which one can help such children in managing and curbing bruxism. Habits such as these should be quickly detected so that children can receive the kind of treatment that improves their comfort throughout life and reduces the damage they cause to one or more teeth. Some of these methods include:

Domestic Remedies

• Promote deep breathing, light stretching, or even reading a book.
• Establish a calming evening routine. It will help your child relax after a stressful day
• Reduce stress levels before sleep.
• Ensure they do not consume caffeine or sugar too late. These drinks can lead to teeth grinding.

Professional Solutions

• A dentist could fit your child with a custom night guard to protect teeth from excessive wear and damage.
• Maybe an orthodontic evaluation would be required if some misaligned teeth or bite issues contribute to bruxism problems.
• Therapy or counselling would be helpful for stress or anxiety-related grinding of teeth, which some children experience.
• Resolving issues early will save the child’s smile from compounding further problems.

Conclusion

Teeth grinding in children is a common phenomenon. It can lead to damage to their teeth and pain in the jaw. Early detection of symptoms of teeth grinding in children must be followed by consultation with a qualified professional. It avoids complications in the long run.

A visit to the Splendora Pediatric Dentist can ensure that your child gets the best oral health care treatment. Be it a customized night guard or some small, simple change in the way of living, individualized treatment can nail the end of bruxism in its press.

Get Expert Dental Care Today!

Have you been worrying about the bruxism of your child? Schedule your appointment with a Splendora Dentist in TX right now. The best team is here for you. Find out more about how we can best resolve your child’s oral health.