If your child grinds their teeth, note what you observe and discuss it with their dentist. Noise alone determines neither severity nor the right appliance. Examination should consider their teeth, growth, any pain and sleep.
Recognise what you observe
Bruxism can affect children and adults, while awake or asleep. NIDCR describes it as more common in children without predicting its course in each child. NIDCR, expert questions on bruxism, 2025.
Describe grinding you hear, clenching you observe or a complaint from your child rather than using these words as if they all prove the same thing. For definitions, see the bruxism guide.
Prepare for a useful consultation
- How long has the noise been heard, and how often?
- Does your child report pain or difficulty eating?
- Have you noticed a broken tooth or damaged appliance?
- Is there snoring, disturbed sleep or another change?
- Has a treatment, appliance or habit changed recently?
These observations guide discussion. One noisy night does not justify a remote diagnosis; repeated complaints should not be dismissed because the phenomenon occurs in many children.
Causes: avoid automatic explanations
Factors described in the sources include psychosocial context, certain substances and medicines. They do not prove that a child grinds because of stress, teething or a bite problem. A general review must not become an individual paediatric diagnosis. Bruxism: umbrella review, Melo et al., 2019.
Unusual breathing during sleep should be discussed with a doctor. Simply choosing a guard online does not resolve it. Information on night-time grinding adds useful observations without replacing that discussion.
When should you seek advice?
Arrange an appointment if the child complains, a tooth appears damaged or the behaviour concerns you. The professional determines what needs monitoring or care. For significant pain, dental trauma or inability to eat normally, seek advice without waiting for a routine check.
The aim is to address the observed problem, not to accumulate appliances. An adult bruxism guard is not a default solution for a growing mouth.
Why this page does not recommend a guard model
Selecting an appliance requires an appropriate indication and follow-up. General adult splint studies do not demonstrate that a product suits a child. MyoForce therefore does not recommend MyoProtect for a child based on this article.
If an appliance is proposed, ask about the goal, instructions, checks and what to do if it becomes uncomfortable. The bruxism management options help distinguish goals but are not a prescription for your child.
Common questions
Will it definitely go away on its own?
We cannot guarantee this. Its course and any need for intervention are assessed through examination and follow-up.
Should I wake my child when they grind?
This page does not propose a sleep-interruption protocol. Report frequency and other observations to the professional caring for them.
Is stress always responsible?
No. Avoid blaming the child or asking them to consciously control a movement observed during sleep.
Sources and update
- International consensus on bruxism, Lobbezoo et al., 2018
- NIDCR, expert questions on bruxism, 2025
- NIDCR, patient information on bruxism, 2025
- Bruxism: umbrella review, Melo et al., 2019
Written by Dr Vladimir Khourda. Updated: 1 October 2026. This information helps explain the options; appliance choice depends on your dental circumstances.