What to do when your child grinds their teeth

Constant teeth-grinding can cause a child’s teeth to wear out, which can lead to tooth sensitivity. — Pixabay

Have you ever heard your child grind his teeth while sleeping?

Or have you experienced your child suddenly clenching and grinding her teeth while watching television?

The above conditions are known as bruxism.

Bruxism is a condition where there is repetitive masticatory muscle activity that is characterised by clenching, tooth-grinding and/or bracing.

The masticatory muscles are those used for chewing food.

It can be categorised into two types: sleep bruxism and awake bruxism.

Sleep bruxism is reported to be more common in children, compared to adults, with the frequency ranging from 13% to 49%.

Bruxism in children can have various causes and can result in a range of effects on a child’s oral health.

There is currently no clear understanding on what causes bruxism in children.

Based on its cause, bruxism can be classified as primary (where there is no clear associated disease) and secondary (where the condition is associated with a specific disease or cause).

Some factors that may contribute to the condition include:

• Stress

  Children can experience anxiety just like adults.

  Children who experience stress, e.g. from a lot of schoolwork, during exam season or from an upsetting experience, are likely to grind their teeth.

• Teeth misalignment
• Sleep disorders

  Most parents report that their child usually grinds their teeth at night, which may disturb their sleep.

• Medications.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the multiple characteristics of bruxism increase the probability of diseases in a child.

These can include:

• Tooth wear

  Persistent grinding of teeth may lead to tooth wear, which is the irreversible loss of tooth structure.

  If not treated early, this may cause tooth sensitivity for children.

• Jaw discomfort
• Children often complain of jaw pain, which can interfere with eating and speaking.
• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances

  Affected children may have disrupted sleep at night.

  This can affect their ability to concentrate in school.

The treatment for bruxism in children depends on the underlying cause and severity of the condition.

Dentists may recommend one or more of the following:

• If stress or anxiety is the cause of bruxism, reducing stress through therapy or relaxation techniques may help to improve the condition.
• A mouthguard may be constructed to help protect the child’s teeth from further wear.
• Orthodontic appliances may be recommended to realign the child’s teeth if that is the cause.

Bruxism in children can be a challenging condition to manage, with various causes and effects on a child’s oral health.

Parents are advised to bring their child to a dentist for consultation to determine the underlying cause and to formulate the appropriate treatment plan before the condition becomes severe.

Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Faisal Ismail is a paediatric dental specialist at the International Islamic University Malaysia and the Malaysian Association of Paediatric Dentistry president. For more information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.