Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Grinding Teeth during Sleep | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My four-year-old daughter grinds her teeth at night while she's sleeping. It's not all night long, but I worry if this will cause damage to her teeth. What causes children to do this? Is it harmful? If so, is there a way to stop it?— Sunney in Tallahassee, Florida | | | ANSWER |
April 6, 2001 | | | Dear Sunney,
The technical term for tooth grinding is bruxism. It is very common. Depending on which expert you consult, it occurs in 20% of children your daughters age, or maybe as many as 60%! Most often bruxism is not serious. The main concern is with excessive wear and tear to the teeth. "Baby teeth" are very tough and a little wear and tear means nothing. If you are concerned that your daughter may be grinding too much, a dentist can tell you if her teeth are OK.
No one knows why some children grind their teeth at night, although lots of possible causes have been put forward. If your daughter is perfectionistic or if her life is extremely busy, you might think about helping her to take things a bit easier. Lowering stress can, in some cases, reduce grinding at night.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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