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It’s the middle of the night. You are having a good sleep, and so is your baby. Suddenly, you wake up afraid. Your baby is grinding their teeth.
While there is a legitimate reason to worry, do not panic. Start by understanding the causes then figure out the best solutions.
In this short post, we’ll talk about the most common reasons for grinding teeth in toddlers. More importantly, we’ll list down the most effective solutions that are worth a try.
The Most Common Reasons Why Toddlers Grind Their Teeth
From teaching kids to feed themselves to encouraging creativity, parents have a long list of things that can help them in raising healthy babies. In the same way, you should not neglect their oral health.
One of the issues to look at is bruxism or teeth grinding, a common condition in children. Different factors can contribute to such, including the following:
- Dental Issues: Toddlers with misaligned teeth are amongst those that are most prone to grinding. It can happen when the teeth are not in the proper position. More so, those with growing teeth are also at risk.
- Stress and Anxiety: It might not seem like it, but even toddlers can suffer from stressful situations. This can happen when there is a change in routine and a new environment that is making them anxious. A noisy environment can also be blamed for their stress.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can be culprits for grinding teeth among toddlers. Some of the health issues that can trigger teeth grinding include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy, tonsillitis, ear infections, and sleep apnea.
- Family: It can also be a condition that runs in the family. Parents who grind their teeth can expect that it is also likely that their children will be doing the same.
How to Stop Toddlers From Grinding Teeth
Here are some of the most promising solutions to help toddlers stop grinding their teeth.
- Minimize Stress: As earlier mentioned, stress is one of the most common culprits for grinding teeth. To prevent such, minimize the situations that toddlers might find stressful. For instance, parents should not fight in front of their little ones.
Another great way to minimize stress is to create a conducive sleeping environment. This way, the toddler will be more relaxed upon hitting the sack. You can do this by ensuring the proper temperature in the bedroom. Dim the lights or leave a nightlight so that your little one will not be afraid. Playing a lullaby or reading a book before sleeping can also help. - Use Pacifiers Properly: For most parents, pacifiers are lifesavers! They can instantly calm irate toddlers. However, it can also have its drawbacks. Among others, it can cause bruxism. Toddlers can get used to the pressure between their teeth. So, when they are not sucking anything, they might end up grinding their teeth instead.
Dentaly explains that most of the benefits of using a pacifier are apparent only up to six months. Beyond that, the potential complications outweigh the potential benefits. By breaking the habit early, there is a higher chance that by the time they are older, they will no longer be dependent on pacifiers. - Massage: When it comes to the treatment of bruxism in children, massage is one more thing that can work. This will make them feel relaxed as they sleep, minimizing the chances that they will grind their teeth. Massaging the neck, face, and shoulder will relax their muscles.
Things You Should Not Do
Now that we talked about some of the potential solutions, here is a quick rundown of the things that you should avoid.
- Using a Nightguard: While nightguards will work for adults, they are not recommended for toddlers. Not only are they awkward and uncomfortable, but they can also inhibit the proper formation of teeth and jaw. It can only be prescribed in severe situations, such as when grinding is causing an infection. If such is the case, then a dentist will have one custom-made to ensure comfort.
- Waking Up the Toddler: For some people, the initial reaction is panic when they hear a toddler grinding teeth for the first time. Nonetheless, even if you are worried, there is no reason to wake up a toddler. It can disrupt sleeping patterns and the child may have a hard time getting back to sleep.
When to See a Professional
In most cases, you may not see a dentist or family doctor when your child is grinding teeth. However, if it is already alarming, then you can have a professional consultation for your peace of mind.
If the toddler is complaining of toothache and sensitivity, then it is best to bring the problem to an expert. Additionally, if the child’s teeth already look worn or if it is changing his or her bite, seeing a professional might be the best course of action.
Should You Be Worried?
Most of you are probably wondering if there is a reason to worry. The good news is that there isn’t! Teeth grinding is a common condition in children, including toddlers. It is one thing that they will soon outgrow, but this does not mean that you should not be proactive in addressing the issue.
Most children will stop grinding their teeth by the time they are six years old. So, for toddlers (one to three years old), it should not be too much of a problem. Grinding will stop once the bite evens out and when their adult teeth start to come out.
In Closing
Grinding teeth is a common but often unalarming condition in toddlers. Several factors can be the culprits, such as misalignment of the teeth, health conditions, and genetics. As for the solutions, the best thing to do is to create a stress-free environment and a conducive sleep environment. As your child grows, grinding can be outgrown. If not, we suggest consulting with a professional if you want peace of mind.
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