Is Your Child Grinding Their Teeth at Night?

Perhaps the problem stems from a bad dream or an unconscious bad habit. Either way, you can rest assured that it is not uncommon for parents to be concerned about their children grindingor clenching their teeth. The first indication is the noise created by the child grinding their teeth when sleeping. Or, the parent may notice their child’s teeth starting to wear down.

Signs and Symptoms of a child grinding their teeth:

• Rhythmic contraction
• Swelling of jaw muscles
• Long pain

Bruxism, or teeth-grinding, can be a severe dental problem to look out for. The problem mostly often occurs when the clenching and gnashing erodes your strong but finite tooth enamel. In the critical concern of bruxism, teeth-clenching and grinding can also come from hyperactivity, cerebral palsy or even a reaction to conventional medications.

The majority of cases of pediatric bruxism do not require any treatment. If excessive problems are present, then a mouth guard may be required. If a child requires a mouthguard, it is important to be cautious as there is the possibility of choking if the appliance becomes dislodged during sleep and it may interfere with the growth of the jaws. The best solution to the problem of bruxism is to visit a pediatric dentist.

If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth and general pediatric dentistry, contact us at Dr. Parekh & Associates today in Alliston.