Chronic Teeth Grinding! HELP!

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When you look in on your sleeping child, you want to hear the sounds of sweet dreams: easy breathing and perhaps an occasional sigh. But some parents hear the harsher sounds of gnashing and grinding teeth, called bruxism, which is common in kids.
What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws, especially during deep sleep or while under stress. It comes from the Greek word "brychein," which means to gnash the teeth. Three out of every 10 kids will grind or clench, experts say, with the highest incidence in children under 5.
Causes of Bruxism

Though studies have been done, no one knows why bruxism happens. But in some cases, kids may grind because the top and bottom teeth aren't aligned properly. Others do it as a response to pain, such as an earache or teething. Kids might grind their teeth as a way to ease the pain, just as they might rub a sore muscle. Most kids outgrow these fairly common causes for grinding.

Stress — usually nervous tension or anger — is another cause. For instance, your child may be worrying about a test at school or experiencing a change in routine (a new sibling or a new teacher). Even arguing with parents and siblings can cause enough stress to prompt teeth grinding or jaw clenching.

Some kids who are hyperactive also experience bruxism.
Effects of Bruxism

Generally, bruxism doesn't hurt a child's teeth. Many cases go undetected with no adverse effects, though some may result in mild morning headaches or earaches. Most often, however, the condition can be more bothersome to you and others in your home because of the grinding sound.

In some extreme circumstances, nighttime grinding and clenching can wear down tooth enamel, chip teeth, increase temperature sensitivity, and cause severe facial pain and jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ). Most kids who grind, however, do not have TMJ problems unless their grinding and clenching is chronic.
Diagnosing Bruxism

Lots of kids who grind their teeth aren't even aware of it, so it's often siblings or parents who identify the problem.

Some signs to watch for:

* grinding noises when your child is sleeping
* complaints of a sore jaw or face in the morning
* thumb sucking
* fingernail biting
* gnawing on pencils and toys
* chewing the inside of the cheek

If you think your child is grinding his or her teeth, visit the dentist, who will examine the teeth for chipped enamel and unusual wear and tear, and spray air and water on the teeth to check for unusual sensitivity.

If damage is detected, the dentist will ask your child a few questions, such as:

* How do you feel before bed?
* Are you worried about anything at home or school?
* Are you angry with someone?
* What do you do before bed?

The exam will help the dentist determine whether the grinding is caused by anatomical (misaligned teeth) or psychological (stress) factors and come up with an effective treatment plan.
Treating Bruxism

Most kids outgrow bruxism, but a combination of parental observation and dental visits can help keep the problem in check until they do.

In cases where the grinding and clenching make a child's face and jaw sore or damage the teeth, dentists may prescribe a special night guard. Molded to a child's teeth, the night guard is similar to the protective mouthpieces worn by football players. Though a mouthpiece may take some getting used to, positive results happen quickly.
Helping Kids With Bruxism

Whether the cause is physical or psychological, kids might be able to control bruxism by relaxing before bedtime — for example, by taking a warm bath or shower, listening to a few minutes of soothing music, or reading a book.

For bruxism that's caused by stress, try to find out what's upsetting your child and find a way to help. For example, a kid who is worried about being away from home for a first camping trip might need reassurance that mom or dad will be nearby if anything happens.

If the issue is more complicated, such as moving to a new town, discuss your child's concerns and try to ease any fears. If you're concerned about your child's emotional state, talk to your doctor.

In rare cases, basic stress relievers aren't enough to stop bruxism. If your child has trouble sleeping or is acting differently than usual, your child's dentist or doctor may suggest a psychological assessment. This can help determine the cause of the stress and an appropriate course of treatment.
How Long Does Bruxism Last?

Childhood bruxism is usually outgrown by adolescence. Most kids stop grinding when they lose their baby teeth because permanent teeth are much more sensitive to pain. However, a few children do continue to grind into adolescence. And if the bruxism is caused by stress, it will continue until the stress is relieved.
Preventing Bruxism

Because some bruxism is a child's natural reaction to growth and development, most cases can't be prevented. Stress-induced bruxism can be avoided, however, by talking with kids regularly about their feelings and helping them deal with stress.

Hi V.:

Here is some info on possible causes of teeth grinding.

People who grind their teeth, whether or not they have jaw or tooth problems, were more likely to snore loudly and have sleep apnea, a dangerous condition in which the sleeper stops breathing for periods of time

Causes Of Teeth Grinding
Grinding your teeth at night can cause a number of problems, such as seriously wearing down your teeth, loosening the teeth, gum reduction, jaw joint problems, and may be a cause of headaches during the day.

You may not recognize you are grinding your teeth unless somebody sleeping with you notices it. Otherwise you may notice symptoms to alert you to the problem, such as headaches, aching jaw muscles, loose teeth or gum problems.

One of the causes is a deficiency in pantothenic acid (one of the B-vitamins) and calcium. Pantothenic acid, an anti-stress vitamin, reduces the production of certain hormones from the adrenal glands. Lack of pantothenic acid is a factor in the control of motor activity; teeth grinding is the sign that motor activity is not under control.

A calcium deficiency causes muscle cramps or involuntary movement of muscles in the mouth resulting in grinding of the teeth. Chew a few calcium or bone meal tablets before bedtime. This remedy seems to reduce contractions of the jaw muscles.

A magnesium deficiency may be another cause. A deficiency can cause spasming, and seems to affect people at night. Leg cramps and teeth grinding are just two ways a magnesium deficiency manifests itself at night.

Another possible cause of teeth grinding is parasites. Pinworms, a common parasite, can cause teeth grinding. A large percentage of the population has some form of parasitic infestation, so have a stool analysis test to determine if you have parasites. Then try an herbal parasite cleanse, not a drug remedy.

Tip: A warm bath before bed may also help.

Best wishes,

M.

The dentist can devise a mouthguard for her to protect her teeth. They cost a couple of hundred dollars, but they work and are not uncomfortable.

I have no personal experience with this, but our dentist/orthodontist seems to be a pro when it comes to teeth grinding. I overheard a conversation she was having with a mom of a ferocious tooth grinder just a couple of days ago, and she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. I don't know where you are, but if it's close, call Dr. Susan Ishioka in Los Alamitos. She's a pediatric dentist and orhtodontist and she is beyond fabulous! I could tell stories for hours singing her praises. We have friends who live in New Zealand that still have appointments with her (and her husband who is also a dentist) every year when they come out. If she's worth flying around the globe for, she's worth driving an extra couple miles!
Good Luck!

I am a a teeth grinder. Have been all my life. I began seeing dentist about this when I was 13 years old (I am now 43). I have heard all kind of stuff. One dentist told me to go see a psychiatrist. After years of frustration and trying to "solve" the problem, I have come to realize that this is part of my make up. Like the color of my hair. Turns out that my dad was a teeth grinder, so is one of my older sisters, one of my younger brothers and my 19 year old daughter. I don't think that there is anything out there to stop the grinding but the mouth guard is the best solution to protect the teeth. You can spend hundreds of dollars at a dentists office to get one or you can do what the people in my family do. Go to a sports store and buy a sports mouth guard for about $10. You can also order mouth guards off of the internet that are specifically designed for teeth grinding that will cost you about $20 with shipping and handling. I am sorry your daughter is experiencing this problem because it is very frustrating and I don't think she can help it. Good luck!

I did years ago, so my dentist made this plastic mold of my teeth for me to sleep in. It was unobtrusive, although I did not like it too much. Eventually, I just stopped.

My son also grinds his teeth, his dentist, checks his teeth for wear and sensitivity each visit. Also checking on progress of permanent teeth. He said that as long as there is no damage and until permanent teeth are in he wouldn't advise a mouthgard as a proper fitting one is expensive and would need to be replaced with each new permanent tooth. We have tried the OTC ones and they just don't fit right and my son kept spitting it out. It helped while it was in however. He still grinds his teeth and he just turned 11, not as much, he seems to be outgrowing it YEA. I noticed it more when he is stressed about something. See if your daughter will talk about what is happening at school or elsewhere in her life, you might find a clue as to why she is grinding.