If your child is grinding their teeth, you may hear the sound of two hard surfaces rubbing against each other. Children tend to grind their teeth more frequently than adults. A child who grinds their jaws and rubs their teeth together has bruxism. There are a variety of reasons why your child may do this, from a misaligned bite to a medical condition or even if they are experiencing stress.
Sometimes, bruxism just comes naturally. However, if the problem persists, it can have adverse effects on your child’s dental health. Contact our office to ask about night guards.
Teeth Grinding: What You Need to Know
The tendency for children to grind their teeth is common. In some cases, they grind so hard that it makes a lot of noise. Other times, they tighten or clench their jaws. A child is usually not woken up by grinding, but other people may wake up due to the noise.
Do you know why your child grinds their teeth?
Around six months of age, babies tend to start getting their first teeth, and more are added soon after. Before you know it, your baby is grinding its teeth. Despite the fact that we don’t always know why children grind their teeth, there are some reasons that may include a desire to relieve pain, such as dental discomfort or an earache or infection.
Grinding your teeth can be a serious condition.
Grinding teeth can range in severity. Minor tooth grinding episodes are common among some children, but severe tooth grinding can occur many times a night for others. Your child’s teeth are more likely to be damaged if the problem is severe and occurs more often.
Effects of Short-Term Change
It is usually the short-term effects of tooth grinding that indicate whether your child needs dental treatment. As a result of grinding and clenching during the night, the teeth can become more sensitive. Also, grinding can wear away the enamel of the teeth, making chewing painful and making the teeth more sensitive to hot and cold.
Impacts Over Time
A child’s tooth grinding can have several long-term negative effects if it continues for a long period of time. In fact, grinding and clenching the teeth for an extended period can cause significant damage to the teeth. Furthermore, teeth may even chip, fracture, or flatten as the enamel wears down. The longer a child grinds their teeth, the greater the chances of developing TMJ, which can cause further jaw pain and make chewing difficult.
If you grind your teeth, please do not wait until your teeth become sensitive and painful before seeking treatment. You can schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options. Our orthodontist in 91737 will identify the cause of your grinding and determine a solution that will protect your teeth from further damage.
You can contact our orthodontics office if you would like more information about maintaining healthy teeth. Please do not hesitate to contact our pediatric orthodontics office in Rancho Cucamonga today!
