The problem of teeth grinding is not limited to adults. Approximately 15% to 33% of children grind their teeth. Children who grind their teeth tend to do so at two peak times when their baby teeth emerge and when their permanent teeth come in. Most children lose the teeth grinding habit after these two sets of teeth have come in more fully.
Most commonly, children grind their teeth during sleep rather than during waking hours. No one knows exactly why children grind their teeth but considerations include improperly aligned teeth or irregular contact between upper and lower teeth, illnesses and other medical conditions (such as nutritional deficiencies, pinworm, allergies, endocrine disorders), and psychological factors including anxiety and stress.
Grinding of the baby teeth rarely results in problems. However, teeth grinding can cause jaw pain, headaches, wear on the teeth, and tmd. Consult your dentist if your child's teeth look worn or if your child complains of tooth sensitivity or pain.
While most kids outgrow grinding their teeth, intervention may be necessary if they don’t. Tooth grinding over a prolonged period (especially with permanent teeth) may put them at risk for worn-down teeth, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain, headaches, etc. There is no one accepted reason as to why it happens, but there are several factors that may be contributing to the problem:
Possible Causes of Grinding:
1.DENTAL PROBLEMS
First and foremost, I recommend that you see a dentist to rule out any underlying medical issues that may be the cause of tooth grinding, such as an abnormal bite, misaligned teeth, etc. A dentist may also recommend a bite guard, especially if the problem only persists at night.
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2.MEDICATION SIDE EFFECT
Check the medications that your child is on. Is tooth grinding a side effect? If so, consult with his doctors to see if there is a suitable alternative.
3.STRESS / ANXIETY
Many people say that tooth grinding/clenching is stress-related. Try to pinpoint possible sources of stress and see if anything can be done to resolve them.
4.HABIT
Could he be grinding his teeth out of habit? If so, work on replacing the habit with a safer alternative. For example, every time your child grinds his teeth, provide him with an oral fidget to chew on. Be patient and consistent.
It’s also worth noting that a recent study on bruxism (the technical term for clenching or grinding the teeth) found success with verbally telling a young girl to stop grinding her teeth. Sounds simple, but habits are often done unconsciously/automatically. So a verbal reminder may help make them more aware of what they’re doing, and they can in turn curb it.
5.STIMMING
Tooth grinding may be a form of stimming. Short for self-stimulation, stimming is a way that individuals with autism and/or sensory processing disorder (SPD) calm and organize themselves, especially in times of stress or extreme emotions.
ORAL HYPOSENSITIVITY
If your child is hyposensitive, he may be grinding his teeth because he needs more oral input. Hyposensitive individuals have little to no awareness in their mouths, which means that they have a high threshold for oral input.
As a result, they may seek out orally stimulating activities that provide lots of proprio ceptive feedback, such as mouth stuffing, excessive chewing on shirts, hands, pencils, etc., and tooth grinding. A speech therapist and/or occupational therapist trained in SPD will be able to assess your child and implement intervention strategies based on his needs.
DIET:-
Children on a limited diet may still have the need to chew and bite and gnaw their food and they may need to hear it happening. Without this important element of eating, they may grind their teeth in search of that tactile and auditory feedback.
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*If the diet is limited because of food aversions, try these tips to accepting different food textures and these mealtime sensory strategies.
*If the diet is limited because he’s a picky eater, try these tips for pleasing picky eaters.
*If the child is g-tube fed or on a diet limited of soft puréed foods for medical reasons, he may still have the urge to physically chew. Allow him to chew on an oral sensory chew tool, especially the textured and scented ones, as these simulate the feel and smell of real food.
No intervention is usually required with preschool-age children. However, older children may need temporary crowns or other methods, such as a night guard, to prevent the grinding.
How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth at Night
Once bruxers have identified the problem, many wonder how to stop teeth grinding. There's no one solution, but there are a number of treatments and medical options that can help manage the problem while preventing further damage to the teeth.
Bruxism Treatment
There are two forms of bruxism treatment. One tends to the symptoms of the disorder, while the other treats the disorder itself, trying to lessen occurrence of symptoms.
Treatments for teeth grinding symptoms aimed at alleviating soreness and tooth pain include:
Using a warm, wet washcloth on the jaw
Massaging jaw muscles, the neck, and face to relieve tension on trigger points
Getting physical therapy
Doing exercises to relax the jaw
Visiting a chiropractor
Using muscle relaxants to relax the jaw
Treatments for bruxism designed to reduce symptoms or get rid of teeth grinding altogether include:
Reducing stress
Drinking more water
Getting more sleep
Not chewing gum or on other objects
Consciously relaxing the face and jaw throughout the day
Buying a teeth grinding mouth guard
Avoiding alcohol, which increases the urge to clench the teeth
Avoiding caffeine, which can make you jumpy and tense
The most popular and widely used of these solutions is mouth guards.
If this is the case with your child, an occupational therapist can assess his needs and put him on what’s called a “sensory diet” of activities that will allow him to safely self-regulate throughout the day. In the meantime, it’s possible that an oral fidget chew tool will help curb the tooth grinding as well.
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