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I can hear my child grinding their teeth, especially at night. Should I be concerned?

Tooth clenching and grinding (bruxism) is actually quite common in children. Two reasons include stress (achieving a new milestone, school, new environments) and dental malocclusion (teeth not fitting together ideally).

It is a fact that the roots of teeth sit in a sling of ligaments and nerves. When children clench or grind, there is enormous neurologic feedback to their brain. A reflex arc sends an impulse to your mandible triggering it to bite (like when we chew food).

What a profound new sensation...