Are There Teeth Grinders in Your House?

Grind, grind, grind, grind.... grind...

If you live with a teeth grinder, especially a night grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound.

Other symptoms of teeth grinding (technically called “bruxism”) include:

--Sensitivity in the teeth

--Tightness or pain in the jaw

--Dull headaches, earaches or facial pain

--Chipped, worn down or loose teeth

Teeth grinding is typically brought on by stress; however, children will also often grind their teeth unknowingly in their sleep. Here are some ways you can try to stop the grinding:

--Find out if there might be something bothering him/her; stress may be a factor

--Take your child to see a dentist. Your dentist may prescribe a nighttime mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding in their sleep

--Tell your child not to chew on hard object, such as pens and pencils

--At night before bed place a warm cloth on your child’s cheek to relax muscles before sleep

--Keep your child hydrated with water; dehydration can lead to teeth grinding

If grinding goes untreated it can lead to chipped teeth, worn enamel, chronic pain or even TMJ, a painful jaw disorder. So, if your child is grinding his/her teeth, contact your dentist for more information and “grinding” solutions.