How to Deal With Kids Grinding Teeth at Night

Pediatric bruxism is the medical term for when a child grinds his teeth while sleeping. This condition can be frustrating for parents who are concerned with the development of their children's teeth and their overall health. However, teeth grinding can be brought about by mental health issues like stress and anxiety, as well as oral health problem such as teeth that are not aligned. Therefore, the resolution of this condition may be found with the assistance of a child psychologist and a pediatric dentist.

Things You'll Need

• Aromatherapy scents
• Soothing music
• Night guard
• Glass of water

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Instructions

Stress Reducing Techniques

• 1

  Talk with your child about any issues at home or school that may be causing them anxiety. Talking about their anxieties often can an assist in relieving their fears.

• 2

  Provide a calming routine before your child goes to bed. Put soothing aromatherapy scents in your child's room and quietly play calming music at bed time to help your child wind down before going to sleep.

• 3

  Reduce your child's consumption of caffeinated foods and beverages such as chocolate and soda pop. Caffeine will increase the body's reaction to stress and may contribute to teeth grinding.

• 4

  Have your child evaluated by a child psychologist if her stress and anxiety cause her to have continued teeth grinding.

Dental and Nutritional Techniques

• 5

  Prohibit your child from chewing on items that are not food, such as pens, pacifiers and chewing gum. Muscles in the jaw can become acclimated to clenching through constant chewing motions and this can contribute to teeth grinding.

• 6

  Take an older child for an evaluation with a pediatric dentist for the application of a night guard. This device is placed in your child's mouth between the upper and lower teeth and serves as a barrier to protect teeth during clenching and grinding.

• 7

  Increase your child's consumption of water during the day. Teeth grinding by children may be the result of dehydration.