My child grinds her teeth so loudly at night it wakes me up! Should I be worried?
Well, even though it may sound like your daughter is chewing on rocks, no you don’t need to worry! Parents will often tell me that it is the most awful sound and it can be…but actually, tooth grinding ( bruxism) is quite common. I have at least one parent a day ask me about it in my children’s dental practice.
The exact cause of grinding is unknown. Dentists don't really know what turns some kids (and not others) into grinders. Tooth grinding in toddlers usually goes away on its own as a child gets used to having teeth.
One side effect of grinding that parents often ask about is the chipping and wearing down of the teeth. I do agree, the teeth can look kind of funky. I see teeth that are slightly chipped to some worn down to the gum line.
Often, as the enamel wears away the teeth flatten out, and the dentin (inside more yellow layer) shows. It does’nt hurt as the pulp (nerve) "scars" back out of the way about as fast as the kid grinds away the tooth structure. By the time you would see real problems due to lost tooth structure, the teeth naturally fall out.
What about a night guard? For toddlers - no. First, it would be impossible to keep it in the mouth, second, you would have to remake it so often due to growth and most importantly - there is no real benefit! Just look at grinding as another milestone as your toddler adjusts to the new teeth they have in their mouths. Although most children out grow it, if your child is still grinding when all of their permanent teeth are in, talk to your dentist. Maybe then it will be time for a night guard. In the mean time a pair of earplugs goes along way!
Well, even though it may sound like your daughter is chewing on rocks, no you don’t need to worry! Parents will often tell me that it is the most awful sound and it can be…but actually, tooth grinding ( bruxism) is quite common. I have at least one parent a day ask me about it in my children’s dental practice.
The exact cause of grinding is unknown. Dentists don't really know what turns some kids (and not others) into grinders. Tooth grinding in toddlers usually goes away on its own as a child gets used to having teeth.
One side effect of grinding that parents often ask about is the chipping and wearing down of the teeth. I do agree, the teeth can look kind of funky. I see teeth that are slightly chipped to some worn down to the gum line.
Often, as the enamel wears away the teeth flatten out, and the dentin (inside more yellow layer) shows. It does’nt hurt as the pulp (nerve) "scars" back out of the way about as fast as the kid grinds away the tooth structure. By the time you would see real problems due to lost tooth structure, the teeth naturally fall out.
What about a night guard? For toddlers - no. First, it would be impossible to keep it in the mouth, second, you would have to remake it so often due to growth and most importantly - there is no real benefit! Just look at grinding as another milestone as your toddler adjusts to the new teeth they have in their mouths. Although most children out grow it, if your child is still grinding when all of their permanent teeth are in, talk to your dentist. Maybe then it will be time for a night guard. In the mean time a pair of earplugs goes along way!
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