Bruxism - Also Known As Night-time Tooth Grinding
Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2009
by Mark Mutschler
Great Grins
Grinding the teeth at night is a common thing for children to do. Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is a common complaint from parents because it makes a terrible noise. The good news is, children often outgrow the habit of tooth grinding and it often causes no serious damage to their teeth.
Parents can expect the grinding to be lessened between the ages of 6 and 9 and it to be practically gone by the age of 12. Sometimes a parent will comment about the teeth wearing down from grinding. Even in these more concerning cases, baby teeth usually fall out without pain even when they are ground down.
Most of the time childhood teeth grinding doesnt require treatment. Any excessive wear (attrition) which causes discomfort or exposes the tooth nerve should be treated with fillings, crowns or a mouth guard. Mouth guards arent usually the first line of defense because they are hard to keep in and must be changed often as the teeth fall out and grow in. If a child is without their primary teeth and is still grinding with their permanent teeth, a mouth guard is a great option however.
About the Author: Offering pediatric dental services and orthodontics to families throughout the Portland metro area. Dr. Mark Mutschler and his staff will provide information on the practice, orthodontics and pediatric dental care needs.
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