[thmc1215]

Does anyone have any information or advice on teeth grinding? Both of our little ones grind their teeth at night - sometimes really loud! I wasn't sure if this was common in children or if it was more common in PI children.

Thanks!

[gcamp]

I don't know about children but my husband grinds his teeth really badly and has to wear a protective plastic thing at night so now he grinds on that rather than his teeth. He was getting really bad headaches and rubbing his teeth away! Not to mention it grossed me out

[Kasey]

My son went thru this at around 15-19 months, both during the day and occasionally at night. During the day, the doc told us it was more because it was a new noise he realized he could make and if we kept telling him to stop the more he would do it.

I noticed the grinding at night occurred on days where he was more stimulated or busy.

I am a grinder myself and I wear a shield evey night, have since I was 16.

I would discuss it with your dentist or pediatrician if you don't see it going away soon.

[votemom]

my 12 yr old (bio) son grinds. he's better the last year or so. of all my kids, he is the one that most keeps his emotions/worries bottled up. he's like me in that way and i also grind.

[StorkWatcher]

My niece did this as a toddler. I did read somewhere that it could be due to overstimulation (from TV or just busy days with not enough down time) or anxiety, yet many times it is just a phase they go through.

[proudmommyof 2]

Dennis went through this at about age 3, and I called the ped., who said not to worry, but had me call the dentist. The dentist said it was common at that age, and even said, "you probably can hear him grinding all the way down the hall, huh?", which was true. He stopped at about 4. Tommy doesn't grind (as of yet).

[StorkWatcher]

You're not alone - check out today's thread from The First Year forum (a great place to learn!)

Worst. Sound. EVER.

[thmc1215]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! It makes lots of sense about them grinding their teeth more when they've been over stimulated in the evenings.

Hopefully, they'll outgrow it soon!

[StorkWatcher]

I just wanted to ask how your pronounce your daughter's first name? It's so pretty!

[k8c]

Children I babysat ground their teeth as a reaction to an incredibly stressful situation. While it can be a phase, it can be a sign of severe anxiety or ptsd. My dad is a dentist. I'd def. take them in to see if they're causing any damage and to hear your dentist's suggestions.

[thmc1215]

Thank you!

Sounds like rhine as in watermelon rhine. My favorite baseball player is Ryne Sandberg who was with the Cubs. I just put the "h" in to make it girly.

[trnews71]

My daughter does that some times and so does Rey (Very loud) Rey was given a piece to place in his mouth at night. Keep us updated.

Carla

[1moretime]

A lot of children grind their teeth. Most outgrow it around the age that the perm. 1st molars fully erupt. Around the age of 9.

You can not give children night guards like you do adults because it will inhibit their growth and devlopment.

It doesn't become a problem until the child grinds so much that it wears into the pulp chamber and becomes painful. That said I have seen several children who have VERY small teeth from grinding and the child said they never hurt. When they get really, really small the child then may have a problem losing them because they can't wiggle them out, a dentist has to extract. However, I see grinders all day long. I have only seen maybe 2 kids who needed to have help getting their teeth out.

The advice I usually give parents is that they may want to get a night guard to wear for themselves if they find themselves grinding their teeth because their child does.

[LilyMoon]

See a pediatric dentist about it. They will let you know what to do.