Do children need night guards?

At Kalaheo Dental, we do not recommend night guards for children, as this can hinder the proper growth and development of their facial structures. Studies show that around 3 out of 10 kids grind their teeth at night, even to the point it extremely audible and almost painful to hear by us adults! The good news is that with most children, this is just a natural process as new teeth are erupting and facial structures are rapidly changing, and both are not always in proper alignment. They will grow out of it! If you feel there could be other underlying conditions, you may want to speak to your child's pediatrician. There are some cases where stress, mild dehydration, and/or lack of vitamin B5, and the minerals calcium and magnesium may be an underlying factor.