HELP, My Toddler Grinds His Teeth at Night!!!

Updated on October 30, 2008
J.K. asks from York, PA
13 answers

Hi, how do you get a 2 year old to stop grinding his teeth at night. We noticed this a couple of nights ago and it a horrible sound, i'm afraid he's going to hurt his teeth or mess them up at such a young age. He is already off the binky or i would just give him one of those. i'm not sure how to approach this one. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks ladies.

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So What Happened?

thanks everyone for the comments back it's good to find out other kids do it too. i think he is getting his molars in because for the past couple of weeks he has been druling and chewing up a storm. he gets it honestly my husband and I still grind our teeth. but i will keep an eye on it and try to ignore it. thanks again.

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J.K.

answers from Reading on

My now 9 year old son used to grind his teeth when he was younger. I spoke to the doctors and dentists and they all told me that he would eventually grow out of it. And, he has. Now I just have to deal with the snoring! All the best to you!

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T.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

Ok, my daughter is 7 and still grinds her teeth but it is not every night. She has been doing it since as early as 2 (that i started noticing). Anyway i asked the doc and dentist, they both said that SOME children grow out of it and some don't. You need to mention this to your son's dentist, he will tell you that he will check your son's teeth every check up time and see if he is starting to notice a hange in his teeth. If he does then he will give you a mouthguard for your son to wear at night time. So again just mention this to your dentist when you go back with your son.

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J.K.

answers from Harrisburg on

You could get a mouth guard to have him put in at night. I would ask your Ped. or a Ped. dentist for further advice just to make sure everything will be fine :)

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T.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Our dentist told us not to worry about it - it's a phase and they'll grow out of it. Remember, those baby teeth are really pointy - in a lot of ways, they are just correcting their bite:)

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J.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi J.,

Don't worry - he will stop all on his own! My son did this when he was getting his molars. It lasted several months as he experimented with his new teeth - he did it during the day and at night. I just ignored it and eventually he stopped. Once he got used to the new teeth in his mouth and they weren't a novelty anymore - and he didn't get attention for grinding, the grinding went away.

J.

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J.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

my girls both do this the noise is horable it is like fingernails on a chalkboard. I talked to our pedatric dentist and the same advice was they will grow out of it and it isnot hurting ther baby teath. Also i did this as a child and she said it is heretaory.

B.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi J., I recommend that you talk to a peds Dentist! We take our girls to Dentistry for Kids in Monroeville, but they do have 3 other offices. They are great with kids and age 2 is a great time to start with dentist meet and greets! Good luck.

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B.R.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My youngest did that. He is now six and very rarely grinds his teeth. When I asked his pediatric dentist about it, just as everyone else has advised, they grow out of it. He did say one benefit was that grinding would actually help to strengthen the jaw bone. As long as your son hasn't been traumatized he should be find. We just had to keep an eye out for broken or chipped teeth, which didn't happen.

Take care,
B.

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N.G.

answers from Allentown on

My daughter also used to do this. It was so loud that it would wake me at night. I talked to her pediatric dentist & she said she was not damaging her teeth. She eventually stopped doing it. I don't have any tricks for stopping it but if it makes you feel better mention it to the dentist.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Apparently, teeth grinding is very common in toddlers and usually a passing phase. My son (5) still sometimes grinds.

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M.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

my son is nine and still grinds his teeth. not every night but enough that I notice it.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

my daughter, also. as long as she wasn't having jaw pain during the day AND as long as there were no other signs that something emotional was going on (no one was abusing her... etc)we let it go. she out grew it.

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P.M.

answers from Harrisburg on

When my son was 3...he used to climb in bed with us in the middle of the night, fall back to sleep, and grind his teeth. I mentioned it to his dentist who said the problem was that we did't put him back in his own bed (because then we wouldn't be able to hear him)!!!! He said many kids do this...and not to worry unless he still did it when his permanent teeth came in (and he didn't) and then he would make him a mouth guard.

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