Pediatric Teeth Grinding Treatment
Teeth grinding during sleep, termed nocturnal bruxism, is surprisingly very common in children. For example, Insana et al. (2013, Community based study of sleep bruxism during early childhood, Sleep Med., 14:183-188), in their study of children in Jefferson County, Kentucky, noted 36.8% of 1,953 preschoolers and 49.6% of 2,888 first grade children reported nocturnal teeth grinding one or more times per week.
Nocturnal teeth grinding in children may commence with the emergence of baby teeth and then later at the emergence of permanent teeth. Most children spontaneously stop nocturnal teeth grinding when their baby and permanent teeth have fully emerged, with nocturnal bruxism seldom occurring by the age of thirteen. Bouts of nocturnal bruxism last for about 4 seconds and occur about six times an hour, and may be accompanied by an awakening from sleep.
Most children eventually outgrow bruxism and dental treatment is not recommended unless there are immediate health issues. For example, intense teeth grinding of the upper jaw against the lower jaw may trigger dental concerns, such as:
- Excessive wear on the teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Facial and jaw pain
- Tooth temperature sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Headache or ear pain
If needed, pediatric dentist Dr. Sara Babich may suggest a thin, plastic nightguard (termed an occlusal splint) to prevent the upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other.
Nocturnal bruxism is a multifactorial habit, combining psychological, lifestyle, and hereditary factors.
Bruxism in children has been associated with:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Hyperactivity (e.g., being strongly associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD))
- Nightmares
- Snoring
Lifestyle stressors for children may include maternal depression, family bereavement, and relocating to a different neighborhood.
Prolonged breast-feeding and bottle-feeding and the habit of biting on objects was associated with nocturnal bruxism in preschool children.
Heredity may play a role and bruxism can be said to “run-in-families.” Thus, bruxism is more likely to occur in children whose parents exhibited bruxism than in children whose parents were bruxism-free.
Do you have any questions about the teeth grinding treatment for kids and teens we offer in NYC? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the top New York City pediatric dentist Dr. Sara Babich? Please call our office at 212-988-4070 or visit our kids dentistry center in Manhattan on the Upper East Side.
Pediatric Dentistry: Dr. Sara B. Babich, DDS
116 E 84th St
New York, NY 10028
(84th St. btw Park Ave / Lex Ave)
☎ 212-988-4070
Contact us today to learn more about our New York City pediatric dentistry practice
212.988.4070
Dr. Sara is a hospital and university trained specialist in pediatric dentistry. For over 20 years Dr. Sara offers the most advanced scientifically based and clinically proven treatments for kids & teens.
Dr. Sara Babich is a member of:
- Dental Study Club of New York
- New York Academy of Dentistry
- The American Dental Association
- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- The New York Dental Association
- The New York County Dental Society
Dr. Sara has privileges at Lenox Hill Hospital. As a leading NYC pediatric dentist she provides the most technologically advanced, safest and time-tested treatments on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
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Dr. Sara Babich
212.988.4070
My daughter can be extremely anxious at the dentist and Dr. Sara immediately put her at ease. She is patient, caring and got the job done while making sure my daughter was comfortable every step of the way. We love Dr. Sara and the entire staff. Thank you for such an amazing experience.
Marilyn Zarabi
Parent