You may have seen recent reports in the media that younger people are starting to grind their teeth more, often causing damage. While this is often thought of as something that mainly affects adults, particularly people who are under pressure at work or dealing with a lot of stress, in reality, younger people can grind or clench their teeth too.
There has been plenty of discussion in recent years about stress, anxiety and poor sleep affecting young people, and our dentists do see the effects of this when they visit our Croydon dental practice. Stress and anxiety are recognised factors in teeth grinding, although they are not the only possible causes.
For parents, and for older children and teenagers themselves, it is important to understand what to look out for and what can be done if grinding becomes a problem.
The dental term for teeth grinding and clenching is ‘bruxism’. It can happen while someone is awake, perhaps when they are concentrating or feeling tense, or, more often, during sleep when they may have little or no awareness of it.
Grinding is fairly obvious when somebody makes a noise with their teeth, but clenching can be much harder to spot. A young person may simply hold their teeth tightly together without realising they are doing it. The first signs of this are often detected during a routine visit to the dentist.
Likely indications that this may be happening is when a dentist at the Smile Dental Practice in Croydon notices that the teeth are becoming worn or chipped. A young person might complain of a sore jaw in the morning, headaches or sensitive teeth. In some cases, a parent may notice that their child makes grinding noises during sleep.
Stress is certainly one possibility. Exams, school or university work, relationships, family problems, worries about the future and the general pressures of growing up can all take their toll. It is not difficult to imagine that this can show itself physically as well as emotionally.
Sleep can also be part of the picture. Poor-quality sleep or an irregular sleep pattern may be associated with bruxism. Caffeine, alcohol and smoking can also contribute as well although this should only occur in the later stages of childhood, if at all. It is worth noting that that grinding is not necessarily a sign that a young person is particularly stressed. There can be several contributing factors, and sometimes there is no obvious reason for it at all.
If grinding happens at night, the young person may not know anything about it.
There are a few things that parents can look out for. These include:
Some of these symptoms can obviously have other causes, so they do not automatically mean that someone is grinding their teeth. A dental examination can help establish whether there are signs of excessive wear or other problems.
If you are a teenager or young adult who thinks you might be grinding your teeth, there are a few fairly simple things worth trying. First, become more aware of what your jaw is doing during the day. If you notice that you are clenching your teeth while studying, gaming, using your phone or concentrating on something, consciously relax your jaw.
Your teeth do not need to be touching when you are not eating. Letting the jaw relax can help break the habit of clenching during the day. It can also help to look at what is happening outside the dentist's surgery. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you constantly rushing from one thing to another? Are you relying heavily on caffeinated drinks to get through the day?
You do not have to change everything at once. Even making a little more time for sleep, exercise, relaxation or simply switching off for a while can be useful when life feels particularly busy. NHS advice for stressed teenagers and young adults also recommends relaxation, regular physical activity, good sleep and talking to somebody about what is causing the pressure.
If a young person discovers that they are grinding their teeth, the answer is not to become anxious about every movement of their jaw. Stress itself can contribute to clenching, so worrying constantly about whether you are doing it can hardly help. The aim is simply to become aware of the habit and, where possible, give the jaw more opportunities to relax.
It is also worth avoiding chewing gum for long periods if the jaw is already sore, as this gives the jaw muscles yet more work to do. One of the most important things you can do though is to see one of our dentists and tell them about it so that they can check.
Our dentists can look for signs of wear and check for cracked or damaged teeth, sensitive areas and problems with existing fillings. They can also look at the jaw and discuss any symptoms the young person has noticed. In some cases, our dentist may recommend a custom-made mouth guard or splint to protect the teeth, particularly if grinding is happening during sleep. These appliances do not necessarily stop the underlying reason for grinding, but they can help protect the teeth from damage while the underlying issue is addressed.
The appropriate approach will depend on the individual. A young person who has mild grinding and no signs of damage may simply need monitoring and some practical advice, while someone with significant tooth wear or jaw pain may need more help.
Grinding is not usually something that needs to cause alarm, but persistent symptoms should not be ignored. If a young person regularly wakes with jaw pain, has headaches, notices that their teeth are becoming sensitive or damaged, or is experiencing significant discomfort when chewing, it is sensible to arrange a dental appointment.
The sooner we can identify excessive grinding, the easier it may be to prevent unnecessary damage to the teeth.
Modern life can certainly be demanding for young people, and stress is one of several factors that can contribute to teeth grinding. But bruxism is not simply a matter of being ‘too stressed”, and it is not something that a young person should feel guilty about. The useful thing is to recognise the signs, look at sleep and stress levels, give the jaw a chance to relax and keep up with regular check-up appointments.
If you would like us to check your, or your child’s, teeth to see if there are signs that this might be happening, you can do this by calling the Smile Dental Practice in Croydon today on 020 86497911.
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