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Original poster

8 month old grinding his teeth - won't have any left soon!

18 replies

HeyBaby · 08/06/2006 09:47

Please help! My DS has two full bottom teeth and two top teeth which are halfway through. He has gotten into the habit now of grinding the bottom teeth against the top. Not only does it sound like fingernails down a blackboard (ARGH!) but I'm scared that soon he won't have any enamel left! I tried to get some free advice from a paediatric dentist but he said he needed to see DS and that the consultation could cost around £100 (no thanks!).

Does anyone have any advice they can give on how to stop this?!!!

OP posts:

cornflakegirl · 08/06/2006 11:10

my ds did this for a bit - horrid isn't it! only did it for a few weeks though.

giddy1 · 08/06/2006 11:14

wow heybaby, thats amazing because my baby started doing that yesterday. She only has 2 bottom a one top tooth and I am worried just like you. I am paranoid about her doing damage to her brand new teeth. I have started using destraction and trying not to worry too much.
Lets hope its a passing phase.

LynnC · 08/06/2006 11:53

My dd did the same but think its just a passing phase and they are getting used to these strange things appearing in their mouth and feeling funny, sure once he is used to them it will stop.

WigWamBam · 08/06/2006 12:01

My dentist told me that babies instinctively grind their teeth when they first come through, partly because they are new and so feel strange, but partly so that too-sharp edges are ground down and so that their "bite" (the way the top and bottom teeth fit together) is correct.

WigWamBam · 08/06/2006 12:03

Have a look at \link{http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/features/teethgrinding_003839.htm\this} - you might find it reassuring.

madamechocolat · 08/06/2006 12:08

mine did it at the same aged for a couple of weeks - freaky at the time but the novelty of it soon wears off and he soon stopped. Lots of distraction seemed to work for us.

melissasmummy · 09/06/2006 14:40

I wouldn't bother with the paediatric dentist TBH. As a dental nurse we have loads of mums telling us their children were doing this & my dd used to do it too.

If he is doing it while awake, they often do it at this stage, just because they can. The more I told dd not to do it, the more she did. Eventually she just stopped.

If it is when he is asleep, he is just getting used to having teeth, if there are any uneven surfaces on the tips of the teeth, he will subconsciously grind so to smooth them out.

He will have to do an awful lot of grinding to effect enamel. I am an habitualy grinder & my enamel is fine. I really think you have nothing to worry about, as soon as he gets used to the feel of them, the "habit" will stop.

MrsBigD · 09/06/2006 14:57

save the money! both dd and ds did that when they got their first teeth... it's a new experience. There's something in there and it makes funny noises when I grind them :)

Bit like when you just got a new filling/crown and it feels a bit weird for starters. Bet you keep checking it by either biting on it or feeling it with your tongue.

It'll pass. Both dd and ds have very strong front teeth. I can attest to that as especially ds is going through a bity/nippy phase

PanicPants · 09/06/2006 15:00

9mth ds does this. Makes me cringe. It is just like nails down a blackboard.

I'm hoping it's just a phase and after he's used to the fact that teeth are in his mouth he'll stop.

suzybow · 09/06/2006 15:21

My 8 month old did this for a few weeks especially when eating which was interesting! - I think it must just be the novelty because after a few weeks it just stopped..

MumtoBen · 11/06/2006 19:25

My son did the same for a while at about the same age. The dentist said it helps relieve teething pain. It stopped after about a month.

lummox · 11/06/2006 19:31

had it here too and i posted this \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=8&threadid=159165#3335697\teeth grinding thread}.

it has mostly stopped now ds is 12 months, but occasionally comes back when he is teething.

and i still haven't got used to the noise!

good luck

Original poster

HeyBaby · 15/06/2006 14:10

thanks all. It's still happening but I'm not so concerned about it so thanks for your messages! I'm sure it's just a passing phase and I guess I should get used to it as I'm sure there's many more to come!

OP posts:

LeahE · 15/06/2006 14:36

Oh Lord, I remember this! It was so annoying -- he did it every time a tooth came through for a while and I swear you could hear it from the other side of the room.

biglips · 15/06/2006 14:40

as me being a first time mum when my DD was same as yours HeyBaby and i thought "What is that noise??" nad realised that she was grinding her teeth, she did it for about 2 weeks on and off!

dubnobasswithmyheadman · 15/06/2006 14:51

at the paediatric dentist trying to charge you £100 for a consultation ! Tell him you got the advice free on MN !

burstingbug · 20/06/2006 15:07

My ds is doing this still at 16 months! it bugs the hell out of me and dh. ds has 14 teeth and 2 more comming through.

Babadoo · 20/06/2006 20:14

My DS is almost 11 months and has been grinding his teeth for a couple of months. Very reassuring to know this is a common occurance and that it's just a phase (although my little sister grinds her teeth at night and she's 25!). It does make a horrible sound though, makes me go cold, but everyone's right, you have to just distract them. Thanks everyone for putting my mind at rest!

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