Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, can be a serious dental concern.  Often this clenching and gnashing will erode your tooth enamel.  A child dealing with bruxism, believe it or not, is fairly common.  Here is what you need to know and how you can help your child. San Tan Valley AZ Best Family Dentist

Causes

On average, 3 out of 10 children deal with bruxism.  Most children will outgrow it.  The cause, this is not exactly clear but misaligned teeth is one likely suspect.  Children tend to grind their teeth when they are in pain, and sometimes they may do it as a way to relieve anxiety or stress. #smilewithconfidence Clenching or grinding can also stem from hyperactivity, cerebral palsy or even a reaction to medications. 

The symptoms usually are headaches, earaches, facial pain and jaw problems.  Keep an eye on them thought.  You don’t want them chipping or wearing down their tooth enamel.  You need to know if they suffer from this condition, even if they still have their baby teeth. 

Trying to determine if your child has bruxism can be difficult. Often children have no idea they are grinding at all.  Check in on them at night to see if you hear any noises while they are asleep or ask a sibling who shares a room with them.  If they complain of a sore jaw or pain when chewing, this could be a sign. San Tan Valley AZ Best Family Dentist

Ask if they are worried about anything? #martindental It emotions like this are happening along with the sound of teeth-grinding while sleeping, it is time to pay attention.  Kids can experience anxiety, so addressing the root cause and trying to help with stress-relieving interventions would be a great thing.