toddler damaging teeth by grinding

[hercules]

DD had her first check up a couple of months ago and everything was fine except she said she was grinding her teeth and may in the future need a guard at night.

I've never noticed her do this and couldnt see what she meant. I've just looked at her top teeth and the two ones on either side of her two front teeth are jagged, broken and sharp at the sides with an upside down triangle in the middle

Of course i'm going to go back to the dentist but anyone else experienced this?

dd is two/

My DD now 5 has done this since she was little. Her dad does it and so do I. Our house used to sound great at night

Some of DD's teeth are a bit worn down too. The dentist has said with her baby teeth it isn't to much of a problem as long as they are kept clean, as they may be slightlt more prone to decay when worn down, but so far so good.

If she is still doing it when her big teeth comes through a mouth guard has been suggested for her too. Although I have had one and found I couldn't sleep with it and it mad me gag so I'm not sure. Although her dad has had lots of problems with his back teeth having worn away as an adult.

Sorry not much help, but just to let you know you are not alone [amile]

tooth-grinding web-page

DD1 was a dreadful grinder and her baby front teeth were down to the gum on the inner edges by the time they fell out, but her adult teeth are fine. I grind myself and have had a guard, mostly to relieve the pressure on my jaw, but as aimsmum says they are uncomfortable and make you gag, I'm not sure a small child could cope.

If the dentist can smooth down the sharp edges I think I would leave it at that for now.

Thanks. I'm a grinder too and have considered getting a guard to save jaw and gum ache.

It sounds like the "upside down triangle" teeth are her canines. If they are, they are supposed to be this shape.

At this age they generally tend to gring their teeth to "smooth out" high spots & interferances on the biting surfaces of their teeth. They are simply grinding them to fit into their occlusion. This can leave the teeth jagged, although I would advise against having the dentist smooth the jagged areas out, as your DD may well grind further to "correct" this. Possibly causing damage.

It may be that it settles itself when she has smoothed out the surfaces. I would be highly synical of giving a toddler a nightguard. They are forever growing & wearing such an appliance for 10-12 hrs per night would have to impede her growth. (I would have to ring my old boss to clarify) She may well just grow out of it. I have never heard of a child of this age being given a nightguard, in 15 years of Dental Experience.

I grind, oddly enough it started whilest I was working as a dental nurse at a particular practice (difficult dentist). I didn't grind before then, hence the fact that you do grow out of the childhood phase of grinding (although don't be alarmed if it does come back when her other teeth come thru, as she will have all sorts going on in her mouth at that stage & a nightguard, IMO would be a deffinite NO NO)

It should be assessed regularly, but to take active treatment as this stage would interfere with growth patterns.

However, if she is showning signs of being in discomfort, that is a different matter. I would tell you to ignore what I have said, as pain relief comes first & foremost.