Why Kids Grind Their Teeth (and How to Prevent Damage)

Your little one has a special set of genetic features within them that determines things like the color of their hair, the alignment of their teeth, and how they handle stress. Their genes can even increase their risk of teeth grinding, or bruxism.

Each of these factors — alignment, stress, and heredity — play a role in awake and sleep bruxism. Characterized by jaw clenching and teeth grinding, this condition is more common in children than adults. However, if you think your child is grinding their teeth, it’s important to try to figure out why so that you can stop the behavior before it causes damage.

Why do kids grind their teeth, and what can you do to prevent them from causing themselves harm?

This blog dives into everything you need to know about childhood bruxism and potential solutions to help your little one stop grinding.

Understanding Bruxism In Children

Although millions of people have been diagnosed with bruxism, it’s a condition that most of us don’t know exists until we deal with it directly. 

There are two types: sleep and awake bruxism. Both are characterized by unconscious teeth grinding and jaw clenching, but sleep bruxism is considered more dangerous because of the inability to recognize and stop the behaviors.

Technically, bruxism isn’t a disorder. It’s classified as a risk factor that can lead to harmful jaw and mouth issues. This designation is because bruxing itself isn’t dangerous, but the problems it causes can have systemic effects. 

There is still a lot to learn about bruxing. However, many cases of this condition are linked to stress, and it’s most prevalent in children.

Statistics On Childhood Bruxism

Comprehensive studies on patients with bruxism show that it is slightly more common in males than females (in this study, the rates were 18.9% to 16.2%, respectively). 

More importantly, the age of the patient made a significant difference. The same study reported that 20.7% of 0-6-year-old patients had sleep bruxism, and 19.4% of 7-11-year-olds presented with the condition. By the time patients reached 12-17 years old, the number decreased to 14.6%. 

When you consider all those percentages and see that children aged 0-17 make up 54.7% of all bruxism cases, it’s easy to be concerned for your little one.

Risk Factors For Child Grinding

What makes some kids more likely to brux than others? How can you tell if your child’s nighttime noises and daytime oral aches and pains are from bruxism or something else?

The first thing to consider is whether they’re predisposed to bruxing due to some typical risk factors. Here are some things that could put your child at risk of grinding and clenching:

• Gender (As mentioned, boys are slightly more likely to develop bruxism than girls.)
• Age (Bruxing is higher when children are younger, and they often grow out of it by age 18.)
• A family history of bruxing
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Increase in stress or anxiety
• Highly psychological reactions to circumstances (highly emotional)
• Restless, active sleep
• Loud snoring
• Sleeping with the light on
• Headaches while sleeping
• Frequent cheek, lip, or other chronic biting habits
• Problems with peers/social issues
• Symptoms of emotional distress
• Low birth weight
• Hyperactivity
• Mental health disorders
• Sleeping less than eight hours a night
• Low family income

This list is extensive but not comprehensive. Bruxism can be a result of many internal and external complications. 

But if your child has one or more of the factors shown here and they have grinding symptoms, chances are, they are bruxing. 

Why Your Child Might Be Grinding Their Teeth

Since bruxism is an effect of something else going on in the body, the key to solving your child’s teeth-grinding behaviors lies in figuring out why they’re exhibiting them.

Which of those risk factors is causing their jaw clenching, or is something else creating the issue?

Digging Into the Causes of Awake And Sleep Bruxism

If your little one grinds when awake, this is typically a sign of stress or anxiety. They may not notice their actions until the behaviors cause them to feel pain, but at that point, they should adjust their jaw and stop the movement. If they don’t or can’t, talk to your pediatrician or a behavioral therapist to determine how best to help your child navigate this confusing time.

On the other hand, sleep bruxism could have many potential causes. The condition is also linked to stress and anxiety, but it could come from physical issues, as well. 

While helping your child handle their hard emotions is an ongoing journey for both of you, some physiological factors are more easily treatable. Let’s look at the medical or environmental reasons your child could be bruxing.

Misaligned Teeth

Many children have malocclusions or misalignments, which is why braces are so popular as the child’s permanent teeth develop. However, misaligned teeth affect the bite, putting extra pressure on the jaw joint.

As the jaw muscles are forced to work abnormally, the added tension and stress cause the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to become dislocated or swollen, and the pain leads to grinding. 

Treatment for misaligned teeth is usually orthodontic care, such as braces. For more mild malocclusions, a retainer (like the custom-made appliances available at JS Dental Lab) can keep the teeth from shifting further out of alignment.

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

Random exposure to the occasional public smoker isn’t going to instantly cause your child to grind. But if they’re consistently around moderate to heavy secondhand smoke (SHS), it could be the reason they develop bruxism.

Studies show that children exposed to higher levels of SHS are 90% more likely to develop the condition.

Researchers are still investigating why this happens, but the fact is that if you want your child’s bruxing to stop, you can help by ensuring they aren’t around SHS.

Sleep Patterns

Everyone needs plenty of rest, but it’s especially important to children as their bodies grow and develop. When your child isn’t getting at least eight hours of regular sleep, it can cause them to grind and clench.

Sleep disturbances, such as sleep apnea, snoring, and night terrors, are other changes in a child’s sleep patterns that can cause bruxism. These slumber interruptions lead to sleep deprivation, which increases a child’s daytime stress. In a vicious cycle, stress triggers bruxing, and bruxing leads to interrupted sleep. 

Working with your little one to provide a soothing bedtime routine and encouraging healthy nutrition and stress-coping habits can solve their grinding.

Other Health Conditions And Medications

Does your child already have medical diagnoses, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or migraines? Certain health conditions, such as these two, are linked with bruxism. 

The stimulation from issues like ADHD and the pain from migraines and other chronic disorders can keep the brain actively trying to release those endorphins while your child is sleeping. 

In another chicken-or-egg situation, the medications for conditions like ADHD are often SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which list teeth clenching and grinding as a side effect. 

If your child is taking sertraline, fluoxetine, or venlafaxine for their condition, it could be leading them to brux. Talk to their pediatrician to find out what grinding treatment is best for your little one as you care for their primary medical condition.

Signs of Bruxism In Children

Aside from recognizing if your child is at risk for bruxing, there are some indicators that something isn’t quite right.

Sleep bruxism looks different in everyone, but here are some of the most common symptoms of grinding to watch out for:

• Grinding noises 
• Jaw pain
• Damage to tooth enamel (cracked or chipped teeth, thinning enamel)
• Tooth sensitivity
• Bleeding gums
• Headaches
• Earaches
• Neck, facial, and jaw pain
• Tiredness/trouble staying asleep

If your child goes for dental checkups regularly, the dentist may be the first to tell you that your little one is showing signs of bruxism. This warning is a good thing — it lets you take steps to treat the problem before the symptoms become painful and extensive.

When You Should Treat Your Child’s Bruxism

Without professional care, it’s still possible to recognize and treat your child’s bruxing behaviors.

When should you seek medical advice from a doctor, and when can you use at-home care to address the grinding and clenching? 

The good news is that most kids grow out of this habit. After age 6, if they continue to brux, talk to their dentist or doctor about your concerns. They may be able to do further testing to find out the cause. 

At-Home Care for Childhood Bruxism

Understandably, you don’t want to wait to prevent damage to your little one’s teeth and mouth. 

While those conclusions are necessary to stop the behaviors, you can still use at-home care to keep the clenching and grinding from causing more harm. Try these simple remedies to help your child sleep and feel better.

Reduce Stress

You might wonder what your child could possibly be stressed about, but remember that they haven’t learned all the techniques we use to adjust to life’s changes.

Outside factors, such as family dynamics, peer pressure, school worries, and confusion about the world, can show up as stresses that you aren’t aware of. 

Talk to your child about their questions, answer them openly, and help them learn coping mechanisms to handle their anxious thoughts.

For more severe anxiety or depression, look for a mental health therapist who specializes in pediatric care.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration reduces the amount of saliva produced in the mouth. When your child doesn’t get enough water to drink, the lack of hydration and saliva increases the time the teeth are touching and grinding.

Get More Active

Exercise is one way to eliminate the stress hormones that lead to bruxism. An active child not only has less energy to grind, but they’re also creating “happy hormones” like serotonin and dopamine while moving around.

Monitor Diet

We already know that what a child eats and drinks during these growing years is crucial for a healthy adult body. Yet, more recent research shows that missing certain nutrients can lead to sleep bruxism.

Children with bruxism tend to have lower dietary fiber intake, magnesium, and Vitamin D levels. Ensuring your child has enough of these nutrients in their daily diet can reduce their teeth-grinding behaviors.

Another vital ingredient is calcium, which supports overall optimal dental health and can help strengthen enamel to protect it from the effects of grinding.

Advanced Tips For Managing Bruxism At Home

If you can’t stop the behaviors altogether, consider investing in a pediatric night guard to help prevent further damage. Night guards are similar to mouthguards, but they’re specially designed to be comfortable to wear while you sleep.

These oral appliances slide over the upper or lower teeth like a retainer, keeping the top and bottom arches from touching. Since they can’t get the traction they need to grind, the jaw muscles are forced to rest and relax.

Even with all the TLC and preventative care possible, your child still might have side effects, like headaches or a sore jaw, from the ongoing clenching and grinding.

Warm baths and moist heat applied to the jaw can soothe the muscles and relieve some of their discomfort. Children’s pain medication (for the appropriate age) can also alleviate symptoms and give the muscles some much-needed rest.

When To Visit A Pediatric Dentist

You’ve tried everything, and your child is still bruxing. It may be time to bring in the expert help — a pediatric dentist.

Even though their baby teeth will fall out eventually, you still want to be sure they’re setting the stage for healthy permanent crowns to come through. Regular cleanings, checkups, and strong at-home dental routines make this more likely. 

However, not all dentists will see pediatric patients because there’s a difference between treating baby and adult teeth and because many children fear the dentist’s office. 

Pediatric dentistry specialists design their structures and practices to be friendly and welcoming to little ones. They also have kid-appropriate oral health strategies that the general dentist may not have access to, including suggestions on treating stubborn grinding behaviors. 

If you’re concerned that the bruxing isn’t getting better, make an appointment with your child’s dentist for more tips. Depending on how severe the issue is, they may refer older children to an orthodontist or suggest a custom night guard. 

Conclusion

Any time your child is dealing with discomfort, you want to take their pain away. That’s a great thing — it means you’re an amazing parent! 

But trying to nail down the cause of bruxism can be a challenge. In the meantime, use the knowledge you’ve learned from this blog and a custom night guard or retainer from JS Dental Lab to reduce the damage their gnashing and clenching can cause.

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