Many children grind or clench their teeth occasionally, especially while sleeping. This habit, known as bruxism, is fairly common during childhood. However, children with special needs may experience teeth grinding more often or more intensely than other children. For parents and caregivers, the sound can be concerning, and over time, the effects on a child’s oral health can become more noticeable.

Children with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and other developmental or neurological conditions may be more likely to grind their teeth. In some cases, grinding may happen during sleep, while other children may clench or grind during stressful or overstimulating moments throughout the day.

Because every child is different, understanding the root cause of teeth grinding is an important first step toward finding relief.

Hearing that your child needs a tooth extraction can feel stressful enough without worrying about possible complications afterward. One concern many parents hear about is dry socket. While the name sounds alarming, the good news is that dry socket is actually quite uncommon, especially in children. In fact, studies show that only about one to three percent of tooth extraction patients develop it.

Knowing what dry socket is and how to prevent it can help you feel more confident as your child recovers. Most children heal smoothly after an extraction, particularly when families carefully follow post-op instructions from their dental team.