Teeth grinding in children or bruxism is the medical term, is usually caused by an amount of stress and anxiety. Most children that grind often do so at night and do not even realize they are doing it. When you visit a kids dentist in Kearney, like Shoal Creek Pediatric Dentistry, our staff can give you great ideas on how to combat this pesky childhood problem. Here are some symptoms to know if your child is grinding their teeth:
- Regular headaches that cannot be explained by common things like dehydration, exercise, or other medical conditions. A children’s dentist in Kearny can diagnose bruxism in children when seen for a visit.
- Jaw or facial pain that was not caused by an accident or injury. Kids can often have falls or accidents as they play and learn, but if jaw pain is ongoing, it’s time to look into a deeper root cause for the pain.
- An earache that, when examined, looks clear. There is a lot of nerves in that area of the face and jaw, and often when kids grind, the same nerve also runs by the ear, mimicking ear pain. If your child continues to experience earaches, take them to your family doctor to see if there is a more serious problem that you are unable to detect.
- Broken or worn-down teeth can be a sign of bruxism or teeth grinding. A kids dentist in Kearney can look at your child’s teeth and determine if this is a concern.
If you spot any of these signs in your child, there are a few things you can do to prevent more painful problems in the future for your child. As a leading children’s dentist in Kearney, Shoal Creek Pediatric Dentistry suggests doing muscle relaxation exercises to reduce stress before bed. This can help the grinding to disappear or be minimized.
Seeing a specialist for stress or anxiety may be needed if the anxiety feels excessive. A kids dentist in Kearney can make a mouth guard, which will prevent the teeth from touching each other and preventing further damage. This also helps with jaw pain as well since the jaw won’t be able to clinch as easily.
At Shoal Creek Pediatric Dentistry, the best children’s dentist in Kearney, our professional staff loves improving the quality of your child’s life, giving them a healthy smile, and taking care of all their dental needs. Give us a call at (816) 781-5437, or visit our website to find out more about our practice.
