Does the Tooth Fairy Pay Less for These Teeth?

A child grinding his or her teeth together while sleeping is a sound that can set your nerves on edge. Teeth grinding and clenching is called bruxism and is very common in children, especially 5 to 6 years old. By the age of 12, bruxism usually goes away on its own.


We're not exactly sure what causes bruxism, and in most cases it doesn't harm your child's teeth. However, there are children who grind so intently that they wear down the edges of their teeth to the extent that we must intervene to save the teeth.

Sometimes, as your child's jawbone and teeth are rapidly growing and changing and primary teeth are erupting, teeth don't match together comfortably, or there is overcrowding, and your child will grind to try to get comfortable.


The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the hinge that allows the lower jaw to move up and down, can have an issue that will result in tooth grinding. There is also thought to be a psychological factor from stress, fear or anxiety.

If necessary, we can polish the teeth to help them fit together, or we can make a custom nightguard that will stop the tooth wear [bottom photo].
Some signs of bruxism include—

• a sore jaw or ear in the morning,
• sore facial muscles, and
• grinding noises during the night.

If you suspect bruxism, it's best that we examine your child right away to make sure there is no serious damage being done.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.