In many cases, children will not experience any symptoms despite grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw. Parents who check in on their children during sleep, or siblings who share a room, may notice a grinding sound.

Problematic bruxing occurs most often in adults. However, some children also may experience symptoms that can become a health problem. Morning jaw pain, headaches, or earaches are sometimes associated with bruxism. In extreme cases, tooth enamel may begin to wear down, exposing dentin. Teeth also may become flattened or chipped. Other complications associated with severe bruxism include:

• Chewed tissue inside the cheek
  
  
• Increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
  
  
• Severe facial pain
  
  
• Jaw problems such as temporomandibular joint disorder (a disorder that occurs in the joints just in front of the ears)