What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the medical term for grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw. Many kids have it, but most outgrow it without lasting problems.
What Causes Bruxism?
Kids might grind their teeth for a few reasons, including:
- teeth that aren’t aligned properly
- pain, such as from an earache orteething
- stress; for instance, from worry about a test or a change in routine. Even arguing with parents and siblings can cause enough stress to prompt teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
- medical reasons, like hyperactivity, cerebral palsy, or some types of medicines
What Problems Can Happen?
Many times bruxism (BRUKS-iz-em) isn’t noticed and doesn’t cause problems. Often, it's more bothersome to other family members because of the grinding sound.
But sometimes it can cause:
- headaches
- worn down tooth enamel or chipped teeth
- sensitive teeth
- face, ear, or jaw pain
How Is Bruxism Diagnosed?
Many kids who grind their teeth don’t know they do. Often, siblings or parents are the ones who notice the problem.
Some signs to watch for:
- grinding noises when your child is sleeping
- complaints of a sore jaw or face after waking up in the morning
- pain with chewing
If you think your child grinds their teeth, visit the dentist, who will check the teeth for chipped enamel and unusual wear and tear, and spray air and water on them to check for sensitivity.
If the teeth are damaged, the dentist may ask a few questions to look what’s causing the grinding, such as misaligned teeth or stress.
How Is Bruxism Treated?
If teeth-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 mouthpieces athletes wear to protect their teeth. A night guard can take some getting used to, but it usually helps quickly.
How Can Parents Help?
Whatever the cause of bruxism, help kids relax before bedtime — they might take a warm bath or shower, listen to a few minutes of soothing music, or read a book.
For bruxism from stress, ask about what's upsetting your child and find a way to help. For example, a kid who worries about being away from home for a first camping trip might need reassurance that mom or dad will be nearby if needed.
If the issue is more complicated, such as moving to a new town, talk to your child about it and try to ease any fears. If you're concerned, talk to your doctor.
In rare cases, basic stress relievers aren't enough to stop bruxism. If your child can’t sleep or acts differently than usual, work with your dentist or doctor to find the cause of the stress and make a plan to help.
Most kids outgrow bruxism when they lose their baby teeth. In the meantime, routine dental visits can help find and treat bruxism.
FAQs
How Can Parents Help? Whatever the cause of bruxism, help kids relax before bedtime — they might take a warm bath or shower, listen to a few minutes of soothing music, or read a book. For bruxism from stress, ask about what's upsetting your child and find a way to help.
What is the holistic approach to bruxism? ›
Mindfulness and meditation practices can help manage the underlying anxiety that often accompanies bruxism. Engaging in regular exercise and physical activity releases endorphins, which promote relaxation and stress relief.
Is grinding and clenching hereditary? ›
Clenching the teeth when facing negative situations is a common reaction, which can carry over to episodes of sleep bruxism. Teeth grinding is also believed to be connected to higher levels of anxiety. Genetics: Researchers have determined that sleep bruxism has a genetic component and can run in families.
Is bruxism teeth grinding or clenching? ›
Clenching or grinding of the teeth (bruxism) is a common activity that can occur both during the day and at night. Some prefer to split these concepts into separate behaviors while others group them together. Grinding or bruxism involves moving the jaw with the teeth held together.
What is the primary trigger of sleep bruxism? ›
Sleep-related microarousals correlate with sleep bruxism, whereas stress and heightened alertness often cause awake bruxism. Risk factors include sleep apnea, anxiety, genetic predisposition, sleep disorders, medication use, and neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
What vitamin stops teeth grinding? ›
Sleep bruxism was associated with vitamin D deficiency and low consumption of calcium and was also associated with increased scores of anxiety and depression. Further investigations should be performed to check if vitamin D and calcium supplementation could relieve sleep bruxism.
How do you permanently stop bruxism? ›
You can't always stop yourself from teeth grinding or clenching, especially if you brux during sleep. But there are steps you can take to reduce your overall risk: Practice mindfulness to reduce daily stress. Get regular dental checkups.
What age is bruxism most common? ›
One in 5 children up to the age of 11 are reported to have sleep bruxism, although the real figure is probably higher as parents often are unaware. Children who brux usually begin at 4-8 years of age, the numbers increase between 10‑14 years of age and then start declining after age 14.
Is teeth grinding linked to ADHD? ›
Conclusion. It can be concluded that children and adolescents with a definite diagnosis of ADHD increase the odds for bruxism compared to those without this disorder. ADHD is significantly associated with higher rates of both awake and sleep bruxism because a similar etiology basis.
What is the root cause of clenching? ›
Oral health specialists often point to too much stress and certain personality types as causes of bruxism. Bruxism often affects people with nervous tension, such as anger, pain, or frustration. It also affects people with aggressive, hurried, or overly competitive tendencies.
Many people get confused between bruxism and TMJ disorder. They can be associated and interrelated but they are two very different things. Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a condition which occurs as a result of an individual grinding or clenching their teeth.
How do I know if I clench or grind my teeth? ›
If you suspect you are suffering from bruxism, there are several signs to look out for: Tight or sore jaw muscles. Flattened teeth. Cracked, chipped, or loose teeth.
How to not clench your jaw at night? ›
Listening to music, taking a warm bath or exercising can help you relax and may reduce your risk of developing bruxism. Avoid stimulating substances in the evening. Don't drink caffeinated coffee or caffeinated tea after dinner and avoid alcohol during the evening, as they may worsen bruxism.
What personality is a sleep bruxism? ›
The results of the Poisson regression model indicated that sleep bruxism was most prevalent in children who scored highly in the Neuroticism sub-scale, and who frequently performed household tasks.
At what stage of sleep does bruxism occur? ›
Bruxism can occur in any stage of sleep or at arousal from sleep. It is most common in stage N1 and N2 and least common during REM sleep. The ICSD-2 recommends audio monitoring and monitoring of at least one masseter muscle for the diagnosis of bruxism.
What is the psychology behind bruxism? ›
People who are more susceptible to stressful emotions like anxiety, anger, and frustration — and even highly determined people — may unconsciously clench, gnash, or grind their teeth at night. People who consider themselves “neurotic” also report grinding more, according to research.
How I cured my bruxism? ›
The most successful and proven bruxism cure is to invest in a bruxism mouthguard. We'll cover that more in a minute. But others believe that it can also be cured by finding ways to relieve the pent-up stress by way of exerting more energy. That includes exercise, yoga, meditation, and so forth.
What herbs are good for bruxism? ›
Certain herbs, such as valerian root, passionflower, and kava, have calming and relaxing properties. These may help reduce anxiety and tension that can contribute to teeth grinding.
How do you reverse bruxism damage? ›
However, severe cases of bruxism that have led to significant tooth wear or broken teeth may require more extensive dental procedures. In cases where this is severe bruxism damage, it is typically not reversible, but there are dental treatments that can help moving forward like orthodontics and custom night guards.
