Here at Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry (or CKPD for short), we hear a lot of questions from concerned parents about how to handle certain dental situations with their children – and we think that’s wonderful. It’s great to see that parents are thinking about their children’s dental health, and a proactive mindset is the best way to help your child develop a beautiful, healthy smile. But while most of the questions we get are about simple things like brushing or baby teeth, there’s one question that can be hugely perplexing for a parent to face: what do you do if your child grinds their teeth at night?

Dealing with Bruxism
Pic2june2016Chronic tooth grinding, also called bruxism, is a surprisingly common phenomenon even in children, with experts estimating that 2 or 3 of every 10 kids will experience some form of it. Unfortunately, it can also be damaging to the teeth, muscles, and face. Chronic clenching and grinding wears down the chewing surfaces of teeth, and it also causes the muscles to store tension and can lead to other problems like TMJ. So what do you do about it?

Thankfully, there is a simple solution: a custom made night guard for your child. With just one visit to our office, we can fit your child with a night guard that’s specially manufactured to fit their unique teeth and bite. This guard acts as a shield between their upper and lower teeth, protecting them from grinding and clenching damage. Wearing it nightly will mitigate damage from bruxism and help alleviate this sometimes painful condition.

Contact Your Castle Pines, CO Pediatric Dentist
If you think your child has bruxism and needs a mouth guard, we would love to help. Feel free to reach out to us at our contact page with any questions or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment at Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree dental offices. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping your child develop a beautiful, healthy, lifelong smile!