TMJ and Teeth Grinding Treatment in Farmington, UT
Hear your child grinding through the bedroom wall, or waking up with a sore jaw yourself? Most grinding is harmless, and some of it is a sign worth catching early. A free visit with a 3D scan of the teeth, jaws and airway tells you which one you are dealing with.
Why do kids grind their teeth at night?
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is common in kids, and most outgrow it as their baby teeth fall out. It is usually loud, it can worry parents, and it rarely does lasting harm.
Doctors do not always know why a particular child grinds. The usual suspects are new teeth coming in, top and bottom teeth that do not meet evenly, pain from an earache or teething, stress, and some medicines.
A child who also snores or breathes through the mouth is a little different. People who grind in their sleep are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea, so that mix is worth raising with your pediatrician.
TMJ disorders, the jaw joint and muscle problems many adults deal with, are less common in young kids. They become more common in the teen years and adulthood.
- Usually outgrownMost kids grind less once their permanent teeth are in.
- Baby teeth fall out anywaySome wear on baby teeth is common.
- Worth a look when paired with snoringGrinding plus mouth breathing is the combination to bring in.
Should you worry about the grinding? Answer three quick questions.
Tell us who is grinding, what you are noticing and what you want most, and we will point you to a likely next step. It takes about 20 seconds, and your answers stay on this page.
Who is grinding?
What are you noticing most?
What matters most to you?
For most families, the right first step is a free check and 3D scan at our State Street office. It takes 45 to 60 minutes, and you will know whether to watch it or act now.
This is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If a jaw locks, a child can't open their mouth, or there is swelling or a fever, call a dentist or doctor today.
When a child's grinding is worth a visit
Grinding on its own is usually nothing to fix. These are the signs that make it worth an exam.
Snoring or mouth breathing
A child who snores most nights, sleeps with the mouth open or wakes up tired should be checked, both by us and by their pediatrician.
Morning headaches or a sore face
If your child complains of a sore jaw, face or head when they wake up, the grinding is doing more than making noise.
Pain when chewing
Kids who avoid crunchy food or chew on one side may have a sore jaw or a tooth problem.
Worn or chipped adult teeth
Wear on baby teeth is common. Wear on new adult teeth is worth catching early, because it does not grow back.
A bite that shifts to one side
If the jaw slides sideways to close, that can be a crossbite, which is worth having checked while a child is still growing.
Grinding after a new medicine
Some medicines can bring on grinding. Mention it to your child's doctor, and don't stop a medicine on your own.
Grinding, snoring and a narrow upper jaw
People who grind in their sleep are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea. In some kids, a narrow upper jaw goes along with mouth breathing and a crowded smile.
Your child's 3D scan shows the airway as well as the teeth and jaws. If the upper jaw is narrow, a palatal expander can widen it while a child is still growing. In older teens and adults, a bone-anchored expander can do the same job. We treat a narrow jaw as a bite problem, not as a cure for snoring.
Only a physician can diagnose sleep apnea, so bring up snoring with your pediatrician too. Read more about airway orthodontics in Farmington and whether braces help with sleep apnea.
- Scan shows the airwayEvery new patient gets a 3D CBCT scan.
- Expanders widen the jawFor kids, teens and, with mini-implants, adults.
- Your doctor diagnoses sleep apneaAn orthodontist does not.
TMJ pain and clenching in teens and adults
Jaw joint and muscle pain, called TMD, shows up more often after childhood. In teens it usually looks like morning headaches or a tired jaw. In parents, it often comes with clenching during the day.
Stress, sports and late nights
Stress from school and sports can play a part, and so can caffeine late in the day. A teen who wakes with headaches or a sore jaw is worth bringing in.
Stress, caffeine and medicine
In adults, grinding often tracks with stress, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and some medicines, including certain antidepressants and ADHD medicines.
Sore after an adjustment
A sore jaw for a few days after braces are tightened is normal. Research does not show that braces cause TMD. Tell us if pain lasts longer.
For most people, the first steps are soft foods, heat or ice, gentle stretches and cutting back on gum chewing and nail biting. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends starting with care like this before anything permanent.
What orthodontics can and can't do for grinding
Braces and Invisalign fix bites. They are not a cure for TMD or for a grinding habit, and the research backs that up. Here is where we can help with kids and parents, and where we can't.
| Situation | What orthodontics can do | What it can't do |
|---|---|---|
| A young child grinding baby teeth | Watch it at a free check and tell you if anything changes | Stop a habit most kids outgrow anyway |
| A narrow jaw or crossbite in a growing child | Widen the jaw with an expander and fix the bite | Diagnose or treat sleep apnea |
| A teen with headaches from clenching | Check the bite and point you to the right next step | Make stress or clenching go away |
| An adult with worn front teeth | Line teeth up so your dentist can rebuild worn edges | Stop the grinding itself |
| A jaw that locks or keeps catching | Check whether the bite plays a part | Fix a joint problem with braces |
Has a jaw locked open or shut? Call a dentist or doctor today. Jaw pain that comes with chest pain or shortness of breath can be a heart problem, so call 911.
Does my child need a night guard?
Usually not. A guard is mainly for protecting teeth when grinding is wearing them down or leaving the face and jaw sore.
Kids' mouths change fast. A guard that fits a 9-year-old now may not fit once the next teeth come in, so whether one makes sense depends on age and which teeth are in. Your child's dentist is a good person to ask too, and we are happy to talk it through at your visit.
For teens and adults, a guard can protect enamel from grinding. Look for one that protects the teeth and leaves the bite where it is. If your bite does need fixing, Invisalign in Farmington and braces are both options, though neither one stops a grinding habit.
Braces and Invisalign start at $2,800 here, and the consultation and scan are free. Our braces cost guide for Farmington covers insurance and our interest-free payment plans.
Grinding and TMJ care in Farmington
Our Farmington office is at 122 E State Street, down the street from the historic Davis County courthouse and just east of Main Street. See our Farmington orthodontist page for hours and directions.
Farmington Junior High and Farmington High, which opened in 2018, are both a short drive away, so an after-school visit is easy to fit in.
- Station Park and LagoonA short drive from the shops at Station Park and from Lagoon.
- Kaysville and Fruit HeightsOur Farmington office is about 11 minutes from Kaysville City Hall. See Kaysville and Fruit Heights.
- Centerville and BountifulCloser to Pages Lane? Read about TMJ and teeth grinding treatment in Bountiful.
Two offices, the same doctors and the same pricing
Families come to us about teeth grinding and jaw pain from Farmington, Kaysville, Fruit Heights, Centerville and Layton. You see the same doctors at either office, and the pricing is the same at both.
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics - Bountiful
On Pages Lane, next door to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry.
- Call or text
- (801) 292-1222
- Office hours
- Monday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Tuesday8:45 AM – 4:45 PM Wednesday8:30 AM – 4:45 PM Thursday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Friday9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reception) Sat–SunClosed
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics - Farmington
On State Street in Farmington. Look for the white building with the Bailey Orthodontics sign out front.
- Call
- (801) 451-6664
- Office hours
- Monday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Tuesday8:45 AM – 4:45 PM Wednesday8:30 AM – 4:45 PM Thursday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Friday9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reception) Sat–SunClosed
What Farmington families say
Real Google reviews from patients at our Farmington and Bountiful offices.
Teeth grinding and TMJ questions from Farmington families
Yes. Grinding is common in kids, and most outgrow it as their baby teeth fall out. It is worth a visit if your child also snores, breathes through the mouth, wakes with a sore jaw or headache, or shows wear on new adult teeth.
Common causes are new teeth coming in, teeth that do not meet evenly, pain from an earache or teething, stress and some medicines. Often there is no single clear cause.
Baby teeth often show wear without harming the adult teeth underneath. Wear on adult teeth is permanent, so grinding that keeps going after the adult teeth come in is worth watching more closely.
Not by itself. People who grind in their sleep are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea, so grinding plus snoring or mouth breathing is worth raising with your pediatrician. Only a physician can diagnose sleep apnea.
An orthodontist can check whether the bite or a narrow jaw plays a part and fix the bite if it does. Braces and expanders don't stop a grinding habit, and we won't promise they will.
It isn't a grinding treatment. An expander widens a narrow upper jaw and can fix a crossbite. If the grinding fades afterward, that is a bonus, not a promise.
Most kids don't. A guard is mainly for protecting teeth when grinding wears them down or makes the face and jaw sore. Because kids' mouths change quickly, timing matters, so ask your child's dentist and bring it up at your visit.
The American Association of Orthodontists suggests a first check by age 7. Most kids that age just need watching, which our 7 & Up Kids Club does for free.
Not on their own. Research does not support braces as a TMD treatment, and it does not show braces cause TMD either. Braces fix bites, which can matter for tooth wear.
Soft foods, heat or ice, gentle jaw stretches, over-the-counter pain relievers as directed, and cutting back on gum chewing and nail biting. Many cases improve with that alone.
Call a dentist or doctor today if a jaw locks open or shut, you can't open your mouth, or there is swelling, a fever or an injury. Jaw pain with chest pain or shortness of breath can be a heart problem, so call 911.
It depends on the plan. Orthodontic benefits usually cover braces or Invisalign. Coverage for TMJ care itself varies, and some medical plans cover parts of it. We check your dental benefits before your visit. See our insurance FAQ.
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics is at 122 E State Street in Farmington. Call (801) 451-6664. The consultation and 3D scan are free.