How do I stop my child from grinding his teeth at night?

Bruxism is the medical term for tooth grinding. Most adult experience some form of teeth grinding at various times in their lives. Furthermore, approximately 15% of children also grind their teeth at night. Dr. Yury Slepak, a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist from Brooklyn Pediatric Dentistry, says that most childhood teeth grinding occurs twice: once when the baby teeth come in and again, when the permanent teeth emerge. Teeth grinding usually stops after the teeth have completely erupted.
Grinding of the baby teeth rarely causes difficulty, but it can result in headaches, sore jaw, and wear on the teeth. In rare cases, it can lead to TMD or temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Continued teeth grinding could also be a sign of something more serious; such as, improperly aligned teeth, illness, or stress. How do you prevent or stop your child from grinding his teeth if he’s experiencing one of these problems?
Ask your child’s dentist to examine his teeth.
Reduce your child’s stress before bedtime.
Use massage to ease jaw pain.
Teach your child stretching exercises for his jaw.
Provide your child with plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Most of the time, teeth grinding will resolve itself, but in some rare cases, a night guard becomes necessary. Above all else, consult with your child’s dentist if you have any concerns.