What Causes Nighttime Grinding in a 5-Year-Old Child?

Question

What causes a 5-year-old child to grind their teeth at night? Could it be a sign of a disease?

Answer

Nighttime grinding in children can be caused by various factors, including intestinal parasites, gastrointestinal or oral diseases, and mental factors. Intestinal parasitic diseases, particularly enterobiasis, are quite common in children. Additionally, gastrointestinal or oral diseases may also lead to grinding. Eating indigestible food before bedtime might trigger grinding. Neurological disorders, such as psychomotor epilepsy and hysteria, can also cause grinding. Emotional excitement during the day, excessive fatigue, or emotional tension may also lead to grinding.