Why Do Kids Grind Their Teeth at Night?

Reviewed by  Monroe Elkin, BS PHARM., DMD

If you've noticed that your child grinds their teeth during the day, you can probably assume that they also grind their teeth during the night while they're sleeping. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, can lead to some harmful effects. It can damage their teeth, cause painful headaches as well as facial and jaw pain, and even lead to TMJ disorder, commonly known as TMJ, which is characterized by a misaligned jaw.

You can teach your child to avoid grinding their teeth when they're awake, but there's nothing they can do to control nighttime grinding. What you can do, though, is help them prevent their teeth from grinding together. The CustMbite Nightguard comes in a petite size so it can protect your child's teeth during sleep.

Why does my kid grind their teeth at night?

Physicians don't entirely understand the causes of bruxism, but it may be due to a combination of physical, psychological, and genetic factors. The following risk factors are associated with involuntary teeth grinding.

• Anxiety and stress
• Anger and frustration
• Age – bruxism is most common in children
• Aggressive, competitive, or hyperactive personality
• Antidepressants or other psychiatric medications
• Caffeinated beverages
• Family member with bruxism
• Epilepsy
• Night terrors
• ADHD

How can I help stop my kid grinding their teeth at night?

The most frequently dentist-recommended method to help kids who grind their teeth at night is a customizable nightguard. The CustMbite Nightguard is a perfect example of the type dentists suggest patients use.

The CustMbite Nightguard is made of our proprietary Vistamaxx material, which is both flexible and tough. Because it's flexible, it's comfortable for your child to wear, so they won't take it out each night because it hurts their mouth. That is essential, because of course, it only works when your kid is wearing it. Because the material is tough, it can stop your child from grinding their teeth together night after night, which reduces all the other negative effects of grinding, like headaches, jaw pain, and further damage to the jaw.

When your child first receives their CustMbite Nightguard, they will mold it to their teeth. You don't need to worry about boil-and-bite processes that could hurt your child's mouth. To fit our nightguard to your child's teeth, all you need is a microwave, a bowl of cold water, and a paper towel. They can fit the guard to their bite in just two minutes.

The custom fit helps the nightguard stay in your child's mouth all night long. This is important because obviously if the nightguard falls out, it's not doing its job of preventing your child's teeth from grinding at night.

You may have had a hard time finding a customizable nightguard if your child has braces. With the CustMbite Nightguard, that is not a problem. Our nightguard comes with specialized instructions for fitting the guard to kids with braces. And you don't need to buy a new nightguard each time their bite changes. All you have to do is remold it to their teeth whenever necessary. This helps make the CustMbite Nightguard one of the most affordable solutions to bruxism available for kids with braces.

Whether your child wears a regular size or petite size nightguard, they can choose from a variety of colors, helping make them more invested in the teeth grinding solution. If they feel ownership over their nightguard routine, they are more likely to stick to it.

The CustMbite Nightguard is easy to clean using our All Natural Oral Appliance Cleaner. Just spray, wipe, rinse, and it's ready to go. The nightguard comes in a case to keep it from getting dirty or dusty, and your child can clean that with the oral appliance cleaner as well.

Where can I get the best nightguard for kids who grind their teeth at night?

The CustMbite Nightguard was designed by dental professionals for comfort, effectiveness, and affordability. It's made entirely in the United States, so you can trust its quality. If your kid grinds their teeth at night, order the best nightguard online today to help prevent present and future damage.