Teeth grinding is a habit that can be both painful and harmful for both adults and children in Encinitas California. Often, it can go undiscovered, until something happens, like a tooth breaking. Children’s Dentist in Encinitas advises that if you discover children are frequently grinding their teeth, which is a condition called Bruxism, action should be taken.

Grinding can be easy to discover, especially if we happen to watch our children sleep. At other times, it can be a challenge to figure out. On a positive note, there are some symptoms that readily go along with Bruxism:

• Teeth that are worn down
• Complaints of sensitive teeth
• Pain or tightness in the jaw muscles, or an earache or other jaw pain
• Frequent unexplained headaches

Often, if our children are grinding their teeth, it happens during their sleep cycle. If their teeth grinding is a result of excessive stress, it can happen during wake time. There are many other reasons for grinding other than stress, such as:

• Improper alignment of top and bottom teeth
• A response to pain, especially for tooth, jaw, or gum pain
• Excessive tension or anger

Unfortunately, Children’s Dentist in Encinitas has found teeth grinding can be a painful, problematic condition for some children. In some cases, a combination of parental attentiveness and frequent visits for regular checkups in our Encinitas California office can help. Parents with growing concerns about a child’s grinding should get in touch with Carlsbad Children’s Dentistry at 760-633-1131, before permanent damage occurs. We can provide a mouth guard to help prevent damage till the reasoning is discovered and other options are available.