What to know about teeth-grinding (bruxism) in children

Teeth-grinding can happen when kids are awake, asleep or both.

Many children grind their teeth at some stage. Some children clench their jaws quite firmly. Others grind so hard that it makes a noise.

Children who grind their teeth at night won’t usually wake up because of the noise they’re making – but other people in the room might!

Teeth-grinding is also called bruxism.

In most cases, teeth-grinding doesn’t cause any damage to children’s teeth. Teeth-grinding might damage teeth in only a few very extreme cases, where the grinding is very regular and very strong.

Why do kids grind their teeth?

Nobody knows for sure why children grind their teeth.

They might do it because:

• their top and bottom teeth aren’t lined up
• they have pain somewhere else in their bodies
• they’re stressed.

Some children grind their teeth during the day because they enjoy the feeling.

How to stop your child from grinding their teeth

In most cases, you don’t need to try to stop your child from grinding their teeth.

Teeth-grinding is normal and nothing to worry about. Your child will probably grow out of grinding their teeth without any treatment.

When to take your child to a doctor or dentist about teeth-grinding

If you’re worried about your child’s teeth-grinding, talk to a health professional, like your GP or dentist.

Devices to protect teeth or prevent grinding can help, but they’re not always necessary. Your dentist will be able to give you advice.

If your child grinds their teeth during sleep and also snores loudly, breathes with their mouth open, or chokes or gasps while they’re asleep, see your GP. This can help you rule out issues like sleep apnoea.