Teeth Grinding

Why does my child grind her/his teeth?

Teeth grinding is fairly common with 1 out of 3 children grinding their teeth at night.There is no known specific reason why children grind their teeth. Many possible reasons have been suggested such as teeth not being well aligned, ear infection, anxiety and, sensation in the jaws as new teeth develop. None of these reasons have been proven.

Is grinding teeth harmful to my child?

The grating sound is disconcerting, making parents believe there must be damage done to the teeth. In some children, there may be slight wear of the enamel on the teeth while in most, there is no damage done. Children are not even aware that they grind their teeth and most outgrow this habit by age 6 or 7. If you have any concerns, discuss it with your child’s dentist during routine dental visits.



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