Teeth grinding in children

Reviewed by Dr. Samar Fadavi, DDS

Short answer: Teeth grinding in children, called bruxism, is common, especially during sleep and while baby teeth are being replaced. Most children grow out of it without lasting harm. It is worth a dental check if you notice worn or chipped teeth, jaw pain or headaches, and worth talking to your doctor if your child also snores, breathes through the mouth or sleeps poorly.

What bruxism is

Bruxism means grinding or clenching the teeth. In children it most often happens during sleep, when parents may hear a grinding or squeaking sound from the bedroom. Some children also clench or grind during the day, often while concentrating, feeling stressed or playing screens.

Many parents worry when they first hear it, because the sound can be loud. The good news is that grinding in young children is common and usually temporary. Children’s jaws and teeth change quickly, and many stop grinding as their adult teeth come in. This guide explains why children grind, what signs to watch for, when it matters, what helps at home and when to see a dentist or doctor. It is general information for families in Scarborough, the Danforth and East Toronto.

Why children grind their teeth

There is often no single cause. Common factors include:

• Growing teeth and jaws. As baby teeth come in and fall out and adult teeth arrive, the bite changes. Grinding may be part of how the jaw adjusts.
• Teething. Babies and toddlers sometimes grind as new teeth come through.
• Sleep-related breathing problems. Snoring, mouth breathing, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies and sleep apnea have all been linked with grinding.
• Stress and worry. Starting school, moving, family changes, tests or busy schedules can show up as clenching and grinding.
• Medicines. Some medicines, including certain stimulant medicines for attention conditions, can increase grinding.
• Other health conditions. Grinding can be more common in children with some neurological or developmental conditions.
• Caffeine and late screens. Pop, iced tea, chocolate and energy drinks, as well as screens before bed, can affect sleep quality.

Signs to watch for

• Grinding or clicking sounds during sleep.
• Teeth that look flat, short or worn at the edges.
• Small chips or cracks in teeth.
• Complaints of a sore jaw or face, especially in the morning.
• Headaches, often around the temples, when waking up.
• Tooth sensitivity to cold or chewing.
• Pain or clicking in the jaw joint when opening wide.
• Daytime clenching, such as tight jaw muscles while concentrating.

Is grinding harmful?

For most young children, grinding causes some wear on baby teeth but no lasting harm, since those teeth will fall out. Grinding becomes more important when:

• It continues after adult teeth have come in, because those teeth must last a lifetime.
• Wear is heavy, causing sensitivity or exposing the inner layer of the tooth.
• Your child has jaw pain, headaches or trouble opening wide.
• It is linked with snoring, pauses in breathing or poor sleep, which can affect behaviour, attention and growth.

Grinding and sleep breathing

One of the most useful things a parent can do is watch how their child sleeps. Signs that may point to a sleep breathing problem include loud or regular snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing, sleeping with the mouth open, restless sleep, bedwetting after being dry, and daytime tiredness, irritability or trouble focusing. If you notice these, talk to your family doctor or paediatrician, who may refer your child to an ear, nose and throat doctor or for a sleep study. Treating the breathing problem often reduces grinding too.

Steps parents can take at home

1. Keep a simple sleep diary. For one or two weeks, note grinding, snoring, bedtime, wake time and anything unusual. Bring it to your dental or doctor visit.
2. Build a calm bedtime routine. A bath, a story and quiet time help children wind down. Aim for a consistent bedtime.
3. Switch off screens an hour before bed. Bright screens and exciting games can make sleep lighter.
4. Limit caffeine. Avoid pop, iced tea, energy drinks and chocolate in the afternoon and evening.
5. Talk about worries. Gentle conversations about school, friends or changes at home can ease stress that shows up at night.
6. Encourage nose breathing. Treating allergies and a blocked nose, with your doctor’s advice, can help.
7. Watch for daytime clenching. Teach older children the relaxed jaw position: lips together, teeth apart, tongue resting on the roof of the mouth.
8. Keep regular dental check-ups. The dentist can track tooth wear over time.

What to avoid

• Do not wake your child every time they grind. It disrupts sleep and does not stop the habit.
• Do not buy an over-the-counter mouthguard for a young child without dental advice. A poorly fitting guard can affect growing jaws or be a choking risk.
• Do not ignore snoring or breathing pauses. These deserve a doctor’s attention.
• Do not scold children for grinding. It is not something they do on purpose.
• Do not stop any prescribed medicine on your own if you think it causes grinding. Talk to the prescribing doctor first.

How the dentist assesses grinding

At a check-up, the dentist looks for flat or shiny worn areas on the teeth, chips, cracks and sensitivity, and checks the jaw muscles and joints. They compare the wear with previous visits and may take photos to track changes. They will ask about sleep, snoring, headaches, stress and medicines. Most of the time, the advice is to watch and wait while supporting good sleep habits.

Treatment options

Watching and waiting

For most young children with baby teeth, no treatment is needed beyond monitoring and healthy sleep habits. Many children stop grinding by the time their adult teeth are in.

Treating the cause

If grinding is linked to a breathing problem, allergies, stress or a medicine, addressing that cause with your child’s doctor is often the most effective step.

Night guards for older children and teens

For older children and teens with adult teeth, heavy wear, jaw pain or headaches, a custom night guard may be suggested. It is made from impressions of the teeth, fits comfortably and protects the enamel during sleep. Because jaws are still growing, guards for younger patients are checked often and may need to be remade. Our night guards and TMJ page explains how guards are made.

Repairing worn teeth

If adult teeth are worn or chipped, bonding or other repairs may be suggested once grinding is under control.

Teens and grinding

Teens face exams, sports, part-time jobs, social pressures and late nights with phones, and clenching can increase. Grinding in teens is more likely to affect adult teeth, so it deserves attention. Signs to watch for include morning jaw soreness, headaches, worn front teeth and sensitivity. Encouraging regular sleep, less caffeine and energy drinks, and stress management can help. Teens who play contact sports also need a mouthguard during games, which is different from a night guard.

Grinding and orthodontics

Some parents wonder whether braces will stop grinding. Orthodontic treatment is used to correct the bite and alignment, and it is not a standard treatment for grinding. Children who grind during orthodontic treatment may have extra wear on brackets or aligners. Mention grinding to your dentist or orthodontist. Our guide to braces and aligners explains options, and our guide on overbites and underbites covers bite problems.

Grinding at different ages

Babies and toddlers

Grinding often starts when the first teeth meet, sometimes before the first birthday. Babies may be exploring the new feeling of teeth touching or easing teething discomfort. It usually settles on its own. Keep up with gentle brushing and the first dental visit by age one.

Preschool and early school years

This is when grinding is most commonly noticed. Baby teeth may look flat or shiny on the biting surfaces. As long as your child is not in pain and sleeps well, monitoring at regular check-ups is usually enough.

Mixed teeth (about ages 6 to 12)

Baby teeth are falling out and adult teeth are coming in. The bite is constantly changing, and some children grind more during this stage. The dentist pays close attention to wear on the new adult front teeth and first molars.

Teens

With all adult teeth in place, ongoing grinding matters more. Stress, caffeine, energy drinks and late screen use are common contributors. A custom guard may be considered if there is wear, sensitivity or jaw pain.

Helping a child with stress

When grinding seems linked to worry, small changes can help a lot:

• Set aside a few quiet minutes at bedtime to talk about the day, without screens.
• Try calming activities such as reading together, gentle stretching or slow belly breathing.
• Keep the evening predictable, with the same order of bath, brushing, story and lights out.
• Prepare children ahead of big changes, such as a new school, a move or a new sibling.
• Talk with your child’s teacher if school stress seems to be a factor.
• Ask your family doctor for support if worries affect sleep, eating or daily life.

Simple jaw care for older children

Most jaw soreness from grinding is mild and settles with simple care at home, rest and time.

Older children and teens with a sore jaw can try a few gentle habits: a warm cloth on the jaw muscles for a few minutes before bed, soft foods for a few days when sore, avoiding gum chewing and biting pencils or nails, and keeping the jaw relaxed with lips together and teeth apart. If pain, clicking or locking continues, book a check.

When to see a dentist

Book a visit if:

• You hear grinding most nights for more than a few weeks.
• Your child’s teeth look worn, flat, chipped or cracked.
• Your child complains of jaw pain, morning headaches or tooth sensitivity.
• Grinding continues after adult teeth have come in.
• It has been more than six months since your child’s last check-up.

See your family doctor or paediatrician if your child snores loudly, stops breathing or gasps during sleep, breathes through the mouth or seems very tired during the day. Our children’s dentistry page explains check-ups for kids, and our guide to your child’s first dental visit explains early care.

Questions about bruxism in children

Is it normal for my child to grind their teeth at night?

Yes, it is common, especially in younger children. Most grow out of it, but a dental check helps confirm there is no heavy wear.

Will grinding damage my child’s adult teeth?

If grinding continues after adult teeth come in, it can wear them. Your dentist will monitor wear and suggest a guard if needed.

Should my child wear a night guard?

Young children with baby teeth rarely need one. Older children and teens with adult teeth and heavy wear or pain may benefit from a custom guard.

Can stress cause grinding in children?

Yes. Changes at school or home, worries and busy schedules can increase clenching and grinding.

Is grinding a sign of sleep apnea?

It can be linked. If your child also snores, breathes through the mouth or has pauses in breathing, talk to your doctor.

Can I stop my child from grinding?

You cannot stop it directly, but calm bedtime routines, less caffeine and screen time, and treating breathing problems often help.

Does grinding mean my child has worms?

No. This is an old myth. There is no proven link between teeth grinding and worms.

Can daytime clenching be a problem too?

Yes. Some children and teens clench while concentrating, gaming or feeling stressed. Gentle reminders to keep the lips together and teeth apart, and short breaks during homework or screen time, help many children break the habit.

How often should my child see the dentist if they grind?

Most children do well with regular check-ups every six months. The dentist compares wear at each visit and may suggest checking more often if wear is increasing quickly or your child has pain.

Will my child need treatment for worn baby teeth?

Usually not. Worn baby teeth are monitored and fall out naturally. Treatment is considered only if a tooth becomes sensitive, painful or damaged.