It’s wild how much relief you can get from something so simple, but yeah, sometimes you really do need a pro to spot what’s going on.
That’s been our experience, honestly. My kid started complaining about headaches and a sore jaw, and at first I thought it was just too much time on screens or maybe a growth spurt. The dentist noticed some wear on her teeth and suggested a night guard. I was skeptical—felt like overkill for a kid—but after a week or two she stopped waking up cranky and the headaches faded.
For anyone dealing with this stuff, what helped us was:
1. Tracking symptoms. I wrote down when she had pain or any clicking/popping.
2. Taking a video of her jaw movement (the dentist actually appreciated that).
3. Getting a custom night guard—not the over-the-counter ones, since the fit made a difference.
It’s weird how something as simple as clenching can throw everything off. I do wonder if stress makes it worse for kids, too... Anyway, if anyone’s on the fence about seeing a specialist, it really can help connect the dots.
