We’re often told that kids grind or clench their teeth at night because of stress. But that doesn’t explain why it happens during deep sleep, when emotional stress isn’t active.
In many cases, these movements – especially at night are the body’s way of making breathing easier. When the airway becomes too narrow or blocked, the jaw may clench or shift forward to mechanically open up space and keep air moving.
Grinding: is more rhythmic and often noisy.
Clenching: tends to be silent but can place intense pressure on the teeth and jaw structures.
This is how the body adapts when the airway isn’t working properly during sleep. Over time, these forces can wear down teeth, irritate joints, and even affect how a child’s face develops.
During sleep, the muscles in the body naturally relax – including the ones that help keep the throat open for breathing.
If a child has a blocked nose, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or an underdeveloped jaw, the space they breathe through can become too tight or even collapse. That grinding sound? It means your child is working harder to breathe.
When the brain senses that oxygen is dropping or carbon dioxide is building up, it steps in to protect breathing. It sends a signal that causes the jaw to shift forward, move side to side, or clench tightly.
This movement helps open the airway again, which creates the grinding sound many parents hear at night.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW:
Studies show that up to 83% of children who grind or clench at night have signs of disrupted breathing, even without snoring or obvious sleep problems.
Grinding is one of the earliest signs that a child’s sleep is being disrupted by breathing issues
Teeth grinding or clenching during sleep is a clear sign that your child isn’t sleeping well.
It’s one of several signs that sleep might not be as healthy as it seems.
You might also notice mood swings, trouble focusing, frequent colds, bedwetting, or dark circles under the eyes.
Some kids have behaviour struggles or seem tired during the day, even with a full night in bed.
These signs are often chalked up to stress or anxiety – but they can point to a breathing issues that’s quietly affecting your child’s development and growth
Getting an airway and facial growth evaluation helps rule out whether your child is grinding because their body is working harder to breathe at night – while there’s still time to help improve their growth and development.
Book your free Orthodontic consultation at Fresh Smiles Geelong specialists to check your Childs airways and rest easy.