As a parent, you’re probably all too used to your little one climbing into your bed in the middle of the night, clambering all over the duvet before snuggling in beside you. It doesn’t take long for you both to fall asleep again, but after a few minutes, you’re woken all of a sudden by a strange and eerie noise, the noise of tiny teeth grinding together. This is an understandably uncomfortable thing to wake up to and will likely raise a lot of questions.

Questions such as - Why do kids grind their teeth? Will they hurt themselves? And is there any way to get them to stop?

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is actually a fairly common condition in young children. In fact, almost a third of all children grind their teeth, most of them under the age of five.

But why do they do it?

Why do some children grind their teeth?

There are many theories as to why children grind their teeth, but the exact reason remains unknown, as it’s an unconscious habit. From dehydration and vitamin deficiency to stress and anxiety, the suggestions are certainly varied. It is also thought that unusual events that cause disruption to a child’s day-to-day life, such as the birth of a sibling or a move to a new home, may increase the amount of teeth grinding. However, there’s no need to be concerned, as more often than not, your child will soon grow out of the habit.

But is there any way to prevent tooth grinding?

Unless you or a sibling has told them, a child won’t generally know that they grind their teeth at night, and it’s probably best to keep it that way. Telling a young preschool child that they subconsciously grind their teeth may only cause them unnecessary stress, so we’re better off keeping this one to ourselves.

In most cases of preschool bruxism, there isn’t any actual damage happening to the teeth. However, there are 4 strategies a parent or caregiver can try if the teeth grinding wakes or worries them:

Do your best to create a relaxing bedtime routine. This could involve a warm bubble bath, listening to some tranquil music, sitting down to some peaceful reading, or even a light massage. By developing a calming routine that creates a feeling of security, a parent can reduce any feelings of stress their child might have before sleep.

If your little one has slipped into your bed in the night and woken you with their grinding, you can gently massage their jaws while they sleep, trying not to wake them. Although this won’t solve the grinding in the long term, it may be enough to put a stop to it for the moment.

‘Progressive muscle relaxation’ is an effective technique developed in the 1940s. In short, it involves focussing on each body part in turn, causing them to relax one at a time. By talking your child through this process, they will eventually learn to put themselves through it all on their own and go to bed feeling calmer and more relaxed.

Speaking in a soothing voice, you might say something along the lines of, “Breathe in. Breathe out. Wiggle your toes. They are relaxed and sleepy. Now your feet are warm and sleepy too. Your legs are feeling calm and tired”, and so on.

Some people find it helps to imagine a warm thick liquid, like honey, gradually seeping up their body, all the way from the tips of their toes to the top of their forehead, or a warm blanket moving slowly across each and every part of the body.

It might also be helpful to examine whether there might be anything causing your child to feel stress, and then work towards alleviating that stress. Perhaps your little one is feeling anxious about a big move to a new preschool, or the arrival of a younger sibling. To help them understand these big and sometimes overwhelming changes, you could try reading a few books together on the relevant subject.

It’s a good idea to mention the teeth grinding to your child’s dentist at the next regular check-up or, if you’re feeling a little unsure and nervous, to book an earlier appointment. If the bruxism has caused any infections, earaches or any other such problems, they’ll be able to prescribe some medication that should do the trick!

More often than not, baby teeth don’t last long enough to suffer any real damage from bruxism, but if the dentist believes the bruxism may cause issues with jaw or teeth development, they may file the teeth slightly so that they align better. Older children are usually given a custom-made mouthguard to be used in sleep, however, it’s very important that this decision is made by a professional, as an ill-fitted mouthpiece could come loose and become a choking hazard.

What should I do about my child’s teeth grinding during sleep?