"Noisy" Teeth May Be a Cause for Concern

Bruxism, a common problem among young children,has the highest incidence in children under 5years old. The condition is defined as grinding of theteeth or clenching of the jaws. Although there is noknown cause for bruxism, in some cases it is relatedto the children's growth and development. For example,some children grind because the top and bottomteeth are not aligned properly.

Typically, bruxism does not hurt children's teeth. Yet,in some extreme cases, grinding and clenching canwear down tooth enamel, chip teeth, and causesevere facial pain and jaw problems. Dental expertsrecommend that, if parents notice their children makinga lot of grinding noises while sleeping, they shouldmake an appointment with a dentist.