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How to manage bruxism after a brain surgery in children?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My nephew is 2 years and 5 months old, and he had brain surgery two months ago to extract a brain tumor. It was an anaplastic ependymoma on his fourth ventricle. After brain surgery, his awareness was low, and he was on a ventilator for 50 days. He is doing well, but our main problem is his teeth grinding (bruxism). It started five days before the surgery, and it got worse after the surgery. His teeth grinding made us extract three of his teeth, and it is getting worse, and it makes him cry, and while crying, he goes out of breath. His doctors do not know what to do about it. Please help us if there is any drug to make it better.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Sorry to hear about your nephew. Due to the tumor for which he was operated, the cerebellum (small brain) was affected. Due to that, he has developed bruxism, which is a rare complication. Unfortunately, there is no established recommended treatment. Some have tried different groups of drugs, like a short course of L-DOPA, Bromocriptine, and Baclofen.

Out of all these, Baclofen has the fewest side effects, which can be tried. Baclofen can be given as 10 to 15 mg per day in two divided doses. Let me know if the bruxism is more during the daytime or while sleeping.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At January 10, 2018
Reviewed AtFebruary 27, 2026

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