The sound of your baby gritting your teeth could be disheartening at times, more so when there are no other sounds to mask that particular gritting sound which appears to be so unusually loud during the dark hours. The first time most parents become aware of this, they are also concerned whether there is something wrong with the developing teeth or jaw of their baby. The positive aspect is that grinding of teeth in babies is, in fact, quite usual and is generally entirely normal in early childhood development. By knowing why babies grind their teeth, when they are likely to grind their teeth, and when you need to be concerned, it can help you respond in a certain way rather than panicking over such a common childhood activity.
Should babies grind their teeth at sleep or when they are awake?
It is all fine that babies grind their teeth both when sleeping and when they are awake. Most of the cases when parents are asked the question, ” Should I worry whenever my baby grinds the teeth, the answer is no. Teeth grinding, or as it is medically called, bruxism, is a normal developmental stage that most babies undergo as their teeth grow and they experiment with various sensations. Baby grinding teeth normally begins with the first appearance of teeth and usually lasts with the eruption of new teeth, even baby molars. At a normal age, most children grow out of this behavior at age three to five without any intervention and without any permanent implications on their teeth.
Development Involving Teeth Grinding.
- Sensual investigation as infants learn the sensation of their new teeth and coordination.
- Self-comforting behavior to alleviate the pain of breaking teeth or to fall asleep.
Why is it that when a baby starts to teethe, he/she grinds his/her teeth?
The process of teeth grinding by infants during the process of teething has several developmental factors that are entirely normal. Teething brings about discomfort and pressure to the gums, which is alleviated by grinding in the short-term – counter-pressure of grinding actually soothes sore gums the same way teething toys do. Clenching of teeth among the babies is also used to make them experiment with the new teeth and how they fit in each other, and what kind of feelings they produce.
Where the baby molars are in the process of coming in, the grinding will become more frequent due to the larger size of the teeth that will be causing more pressure and discomfort compared to the small front teeth. To know how to make a child stop grinding their teeth, it is important to first of all realize that there is normally a reason behind this occurrence during their developmental stage.
Discomfort In Teeth and Jaw Investigation.
- The temporary effects of grinding include pressure relief of sore, swollen gums during teething.
- Exploration of the senses when infants are experimenting with the feel and the position of their new teeth.
At what age do babies tend to grind their teeth?
The first tooth grinding comes at the age of between 6 and 10 months when the first teeth form, but some babies form the first tooth grinding later, depending on the time when the teeth are formed. The habit tends to aggravate between the ages of 12 and 18 months as more teeth appear and baby molars are emerging at the age of about one year. A large number of infants grind teeth in an intermittent way during the toddler stage, with the grinding sometimes becoming more frequent than usual each time new teeth are added.
Clenching of teeth in babies, particularly when they are asleep, occurs very often, although the grinding takes place during the day as well. Grinding is a behaviour inherently acquired by most children who stop at age three to five when their baby teeth have fully developed, and they have acquired more complex ways of self-comfort.
Does grinding teeth damage the growing teeth of a baby?
In the majority of cases, baby grinding teeth will not result in any permanent harm to developing baby teeth, regardless of the alarming sounds that it produces. Baby teeth are temporary anyway; they fall off, and permanent teeth take their place, so trivial wear caused by grinding will hardly cause any major issue. Nevertheless, it may lead to problems that should be tracked sometimes after excessive grinding.
In case of noticeable tooth wear, chips, or when your child complains of any pain in the jaw, a professional dental examination will be required to determine whether the grinding is not causing any issues that need to be addressed. Clients frequently pose the following question: Should I worry that my baby grinds his or her teeth? The answer is normally no unless the grinding is acute, chronic after age five, or in any case of other worrisome symptoms.
Theoretical Impact on Infant Teeth.
- Chewing tooth wear may be minor, but it is seldom functional.
- Uncommon complications such as tooth sensitivity, chips, or jaw pain need the attention of a professional.
How to make a Baby stop grinding his teeth?
Although the majority of cases of baby grinding teeth resolve on their own and do not require any interventions, anxious parents would wonder how to make a baby to cease grinding its teeth. As the grinding is usually connected with the discomfort in the teething, providing relevant teething toys, cold washcloths, or teething rings will be helpful to address the necessity of applying pressure without grinding. The development of relaxing bedtime habits helps to suppress grinding during sleep.
Rubbing the jaw of your baby before bed will also relax the muscles of the jaw, thus reducing nighttime teeth clenching in infants. But do keep in mind that grinding is typically a transitional developmental process – most of the intervention is concerned with alleviating the pain behind the behavior but not the behavior itself.
When to invite a Professional Dental Assessment.
Although it is generally normal to grind teeth in babies, some of them necessitate some professional intervention. In case the grinding persists much after age five, it is apparent that the effects of grinding become evident, the patient complains of either painful effects on the jaw or the tooth, or there are other troubling signs, then it is time to plan a dental visit with a pediatric dentist. Frequent dental visits, which begin at an age of approximately one year, will enable dental practitioners to keep a check on the progress of the tooth of your child and set out any problem concerning grinding early.
Helping Your Child Care her Dental Health.
The awareness that grinding teeth in babies is a normal developmental process decreases the level of anxiety in parents concerning this normal childhood stage. Being aware of when the baby molars will be formed and of the fact that they are usually accompanied by more grinding gives you a clue about the behavior in advance, and you are able to predict it. Although the teeth clenching of babies is worrying, it does not have long-term effects and often goes off on its own as the child grows.
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Conclusion
You are better off consulting a professional pediatric dental assessment with questions regarding the development of the teeth in your child, including whether or not baby grinding teeth needs any intervention. In McKinney, TX, at LiT Dental, we have a skilled dental team that offers full pediatric dental services throughout, which we keep track of your child development and the worries he/she would have in a friendly child-like atmosphere. In addition to being a pediatric clinic, we also provide complete family dental services such as dental crowns, dental veneers, dental bonding, and dental fillings for both children and adults.
