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Teeth Grinding - My 5yr old has started grinding his teeth constantly!!! Anyone else had this?

9 replies

MissiMoo · 03/02/2008 22:47

My little man has stated to grind his teeth - CONSTANTLY! Has anybody else had any experience of this? I can't say that it is attched to any stressful situations as it is all the time - I have looke donline and do not seem to be none the wiser - should I be worried? Any comments gratefully received!!!!!!! thank you x

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hereagain · 04/02/2008 08:26

My DS (also 5) does this too! It's the most horrible noise isn't it!?!

He only does it at night though, in his sleep, not during the day. My 12yo DSD also does it at night and has done since she was about 5 also.
(Sleeping in a tent with them both when we went camping last year was a nightmare )

I have been told it's an anxiety thing. MY DS is pretty laid back so I'm not too worried, but think it's funny how it seems to start around 5 (school age).

The dentist isn't worried about their teeth. So I just make sure I talk to them both about school and try and find out what's going on for them etc and talk about any worries/concerns but also the good/exciting things too.

I always talk to DS about school right as I'm putting him to bed. I sit on the bed and we talk about the whole day and ask him out-right if everythings ok etc and that does seem to help. Almost like he gets it all off his chest before he goes to sleep and then has a restful sleep....less grinding!

igglepiggles · 04/02/2008 09:13

i grind my teeth in sleep at night it drives my dp up the wall, but my mum said i ve always done it, i got nice teeth tho, no fillings etc so it cant be doing me that much harm!!! lol

nametaken · 04/02/2008 12:42

mention it to the dentist next time you go.

Scampmum · 04/02/2008 12:48

DH does it and it drives me up the wall! He went to have his teeth cleaned in Oz and the dentist (i.e. not his normal dentist) could tell immediately. The back ones are pretty worn down. Definitely stress related for him. He also smokes and has damaged/soft enamel from too many antibiotics as a kid so maybe that's why the grinding affects them. Do think it is generally connected to headaches etc. - it's quite a lot of pressure (I feel his face when he's doing it). It's called bruxism which might help the googling. DH had a special mouthguard which helped the noise and his teeth (and got worn down scarily quickly) but he is a weird germ paranoiac and stopped wearing it . (It cracked a bit under pressure and he was worried germs were breeding in the crack.) He also really disliked wearing it.

Horror of horrors, DD (21 months) has started doing it too. No evidence she does it in her sleep but have noticed her doing it when she's excited about something. Yikes, a whole family of gurners.

Scampmum · 04/02/2008 12:49

Oh yes, and MIL says he's done it since he was tiny.

igglepiggles · 04/02/2008 13:43

i was gna ask if anyone has headaches frm it, i suffer with a lot of migranes and been trying to figure out wat is causing them and i told my GP about grinding teeth and he said it mite be the cause!

scully · 05/02/2008 04:13

dd1 has done this in her sleep since she was around 3. I was concerned at first, thinking it was stress related, but haven't found any reason for it. She still does it, and will be 6 in April, so far hasn't affected her teeth, it's awful to listen to though

sandcastles · 05/02/2008 06:58

Headaches can deffinitely be caused by bruxism. As can jaw problems. In some adults it can also cause next tension & muscle aches, as all the muscles are connected.

I grind & clench, have done for years, force of habit now I think.

Our teeth sit in a periodontal membrane which acts like a shock absorber, they move microscopically when we eat/grind. This is why grinding, say in children, doesn't tend to do a lot of damage. Also, in children they are still growing, so the membrane that surrounds their teeth isn't as firm as an adults would be. Can be worse in mix dentition children [children with adult & baby teeth] as they 'fight' to seat the adult teeth into bite.

In the case of young children, it can be where the teeth are trying to align themselves into the bite correctly. When teeth come thru they are very ridged & dont sit in the bite correctly, so we grind to get them to sit into the bite. Not much will be done for children. It can be a habit they grow out of once they have all their teeth, but many dentists are reluctant to treat at a young age.

With adults, stress is a major factor. Concider seeing a TMJ [tempromandibular joint] specialist of you have permanent jaw/head/neck/shoulder/upper back ache. Constant tiredness, waking feel lathargic/like you haven't been to sleep.

I haven't heard of smoking making the grinding worse, or affecting the teeth worse. TBH an adult can do plenty of damage to teeth by gringing, with no external factors.

Scampmum, I really reccomend your dh gets a new guard, otherwise he can grind the teeth badly & they may need extensive repair. They can be cleaned normally & I put mine in denture tab 2/3 times a week.

bada · 12/03/2008 19:48

Hello i have been suffering for many years with bruxism it has made my life unbearable i have not had a holiday for five years and i am reluctant to make a dinner date with my friends as i do not know when and if i would be unwell. My symptoms are accute headaches which can last for weeks. Dizziness nausea etc. I have contemplated suicide the pain in my head and neck was unbearable. No doctor has diagnosed me. I have paid for a head scan convinced i had a tumour however.
I have a guard from my dentist which works to a small degree. Does any fellow sufferers have any good advice i will try anything.
Brenda

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