Does my child grind their teeth at night — is it a problem?

Nighttime teeth grinding is very common in children and most often harmless — many grow out of it with no lasting effect. It's worth mentioning at a checkup so we can look for wear. We rarely need a nightguard for young kids, but we'll tell you if your child's grinding needs attention.

If you've heard that unmistakable grinding sound coming from your child's room at night, you're far from alone — a large share of children grind or clench their teeth during sleep, a habit called bruxism, and it's especially common during the toddler and early school-age years. In the great majority of cases it's harmless, and children simply outgrow it on their own, often as they lose baby teeth and their adult teeth and jaws settle into place.

Why children grind isn't completely understood, but it's been linked to several ordinary things: the normal development and shifting of the bite as teeth come and go, stress or excitement (a big day, a new sibling, a change in routine), and disrupted or lighter phases of sleep. Because baby teeth are eventually replaced anyway, occasional grinding during these years usually causes no lasting harm to the teeth.

Even so, it's worth mentioning at your child's regular checkup, because we can keep an eye on it. At each visit we'll look for signs that the grinding is heavy enough to matter — noticeable flattening or wear on the teeth, chips, increased sensitivity, or complaints of jaw soreness or morning headaches. For the small number of children whose grinding is significant, we can discuss options. It's worth noting that nightguards are used far less often in young children than in adults, precisely because a child's mouth is constantly changing as teeth erupt and fall out, which makes a fitted appliance impractical and quickly outgrown; we reserve them for specific situations.

There are gentle things you can do at home if grinding seems tied to tension. A calming, consistent bedtime routine — a warm bath, quiet time, reading together, and limiting screens before bed — can ease the stress and lighter sleep that sometimes trigger grinding. Making sure your child is well hydrated and not overtired helps too.

One thing worth flagging: if the grinding comes alongside loud snoring, pauses in breathing, restless sleep, mouth-breathing, or daytime tiredness and irritability, mention it to both us and your pediatrician. Occasionally grinding is associated with disrupted breathing during sleep, which is worth evaluating on its own. Absent those signs, though, childhood teeth grinding is usually something to simply monitor rather than treat. If you're ever unsure or concerned about what you're hearing at night, bring it up — we're glad to take a look and put your mind at ease.

A dentist visit with zero dread? It exists.