Child Grinding Teeth at Night: Causes, What to Watch, and When to See a Doctor

Teeth grinding is common in kids and usually fades with age. Why it happens, what to watch at home, why to skip store-bought mouth guards, and warning signs.

Hearing a loud grinding sound from your child's room in the middle of the night can be startling. You may worry the teeth will wear down, or that something is wrong. Here's why kids grind their teeth, when you can just keep an eye on it, and when it's time to see a doctor.

Why kids grind their teeth

Grinding during sleep happens when the chewing muscles move on their own while your child sleeps. It's seen less as an illness and more as muscle activity that happens during sleep. It's most common in childhood and happens less often with age. How much and how long varies a lot from child to child.

There's no single cause. Studies suggest it may be linked to things like breathing problems during sleep such as snoring, anxiety, and irregular sleep habits, but most only show a link. Some experts say the link to stress is especially unclear in young children.

Grinding was once thought to ruin the teeth, so a mouth guard seemed necessary no matter what. Now it's seen as a common thing that usually just needs watching, and decisions are made child by child. Often it turns out no specific treatment is needed. There's no evidence for treating kids' grinding with medicine.

Another common myth is that "grinding means sleep apnea." Grinding often happens together with snoring or sleep apnea, but grinding does not mean a child has sleep apnea. That's why it's important to watch how your child breathes, not just listen for the grinding.

Here's how to keep an eye on it at home

If it's just the noise and your child eats well, plays well, and is doing fine during the day, it usually just needs watching.

1. For a few nights, along with the grinding, notice and jot down whether your child snores, sleeps with their mouth open, or has moments when breathing stops.
2. Ask whether their jaw or head hurts in the morning.
3. Keep a regular bedtime and cut back on screen time before bed. Instead, try winding down the day with dim lights and a book or a quiet chat.
4. Look for anything that may be making your child anxious or stressed lately, and listen to them.
5. Share your notes with the dentist at the regular checkup.

Please avoid buying a store-bought mouth guard and fitting it on your own. Your child's mouth keeps changing as teeth fall out and new ones come in, so a device that doesn't fit can actually get in the way. Whether a device is needed is the dentist's call.

There's no need to shake your child awake or scold them with "Stop grinding!" It happens while they're asleep, so they can't control it, and most kids don't remember it. Rather than saying "You were grinding last night" in the morning, ask how they slept and check how they're feeling.

Frequently asked questions

When to see a doctor

• You see your child stop breathing during sleep: pediatrician (don't wait for a checkup)
• Snoring or mouth breathing during sleep almost every night: pediatrician
• Daytime sleepiness or unusual hyperactivity: pediatrician
• Jaw pain or headaches in the morning, or trouble opening the mouth: dentist
• Teeth that chip, feel sensitive, or look clearly worn: dentist

English ebook · Dentist Ingyoon An

A guide to the decisions behind dental care

Tooth Calendar follows dental care from pregnancy to eighteen in 78 chapters. Explore the reasons behind feeding, brushing, baby-tooth decay, sedation, and injury decisions—including what can be watched and when to seek help. Age-based contents and a topic index help you find the concern you have today.

Preview & buy on Google Play Books

The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.

← All articles