Teeth Grinding, Jaw Pain, and TMJ/TMD

A TMJ disorder (or TMD) is a chronic degenerative condition that can take years to develop and have serious consequences for our health and quality of life. When a jaw is misaligned, it can cause headaches, neck and/or shoulder pain, clicking and/or popping sounds in the jaw, locked jaw, jaw pain, teeth grinding, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Teeth Grinding

Many children grind or clench their teeth, a habit medically known as bruxism. While grinding from time to time might not cause harm, frequent grinding can create issues for their teeth and cause other oral health complications. Teeth grinding can stem from stress and anxiety, though it often develops during sleeping hours and is more likely to be the result of an abnormal bite, missing teeth, or crooked teeth. Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, can also contribute to teeth-grinding. As grinding typically occurs during sleep, it is unlikely you will be aware of your child's tendency unless a symptom of bruxism, such as a constant headache or sore jaw, is present.

Speak to our pediatric dentist at your child's next dental appointment if you believe your child may be grinding their teeth. Our dentist can examine their mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism, including jaw tenderness and excess wear on their teeth. Continual teeth grinding can produce fracturing, loosening, deterioration, or loss of teeth for some children. If left untreated, your child's grinding can cause issues later in life that could result in the need for a dental bridge, crown, root canal, implant, partial denture, or even complete dentures in certain instances. Luckily, most children grow out of grinding between ages six and nine. A great way to help prevent further complications is to speak with our office at your child's next dental appointment for the best solution to stop teeth grinding.

Clicking or Locked Jaw

Your temporomandibular joint, located directly next to each of your ears, is responsible for connecting our jaw to our skull and allowing our mouth to speak, chew, and yawn. When a jaw is clicking or locking, this might be a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). This occurs when the jaw joint is harmed or inflamed due to an injury, inflammatory disorder, or other issue. Ideally, the temporomandibular joint operates as a smooth hinge so the jaw can move in a natural, free motion. Inflammation or harm impairs the movement, forcing the jaw to click or lock, while also making it a challenge for the jaw to open.

Some cases of TMD can be helped by lifestyle choices, such as no longer chewing gum. To assist in the recovery, try reducing stress, utilizing a night guard that will treat teeth grinding, eating softer foods, and using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. In more severe cases of TMD, your child might require treatment from a dental professional, especially if it was caused by an oral injury or inflammatory disease. Surgical treatments are rare and are only recommended if all other alternative treatments were ineffective.

Treatment

When you bring your child in for their appointment, we will assess their teeth and mouth for any visible signs of wear. If there is an issue, we will use a few different methods to understand why the issue is happening and develop a customized treatment plan for them. Some of the methods we use to determine if your child has a bite issue include a complete oral exam, panoramic X-rays, a model of their mouth using our 3D scanner, and high-definition photos.

Depending on your child's situation, there are generally two ways to correct a TMJ dysfunction. One solution is to use braces and possibly other orthodontic appliances to correct the position and development of their jaw. The second option is to establish a physiologic bite position using an appliance for two to three weeks, then use crowns to restore their teeth to their healthy position. It is always best to treat TMD as early as possible to prevent future oral health issues.