Baby grinding teeth is common phenomenon babies who brux during sleep may also snore loudly or experience sleep apnea. Why baby grinding its teeth? How do you know your baby is baby grinding teeth? What it will cause? How to deal with it? Continue reading, you will find all you want.

What is Bruxism?

Babies are also susceptible to the condition known as bruxism. It entails teeth gnashing, clenching, or baby-grinding teeth. Babies typically act unconsciously, so they don’t give it any thought. Awake bruxism is the term used to describe teeth grinding in children. Sleep bruxism is the term used to describe teeth clenching or grinding at night. Babies who brux during sleep may also snore loudly or experience sleep apnea.

Why Does Baby Grinding Teeth?

When a baby grinds teeth, what does that mean? Numerous factors can contribute to bruxism. Babies grind their teeth because of a number of different factors, such as:

• A relatively unstable or “slippery” bite due to few teeth – as teeth first start to erupt, sometimes there are not enough teeth to make contact with each other.
• Misaligned teeth can make babies uncomfortable.
• If your baby is still teething, stressed, ed or in other pain, such as an earache or headache, they may be unconsciously numbing their pain by grinding their teeth together.

It can be challenging for parents to recognize their infant is in pain when they are too young to express it, especially if the grinding occurs while they are asleep. Instead, you’ll probably be able to hear the distinct noises made by their teeth rubbing against one another.

Do not be alarmed; this is normal. Your baby is healthy, and the condition will likely go away on its own in many instances. We’ll discuss some of them below, but there are a few different ways to reduce or stop tooth grinding.

What Are Symptoms of Baby Grinding Teeth?

The first sign of bruxism in your baby is likely to baby grinding teeth at night or during naps. When your baby is awake during the day, you might also notice them grinding their teeth or making subtle jaw movements. It can be challenging to know for sure.

Some general symptoms that may indicate your baby have bruxism include:

• especially at night or while your baby is sleeping, with loud clicking or grinding noises
• the jaw or teeth clenching in a rhythmic manner.
• a baby’s teeth may be sensitive to hot or cold foods, which can make them cry during mealtimes.
• Tooth injuries.
• Gum swelling.

What Are The Problems Baby Grinding Teeth Can Cause?

It may be difficult for you to determine if your baby grinding their teeth while asleep. Your baby’s teeth can be examined by a pediatric dentist to look for signs of bruxism.

The short-term effects of bruxism in babies include:

• Headaches: Your baby may feel pain in or near the ear area.
• Muscle aches: When the jaw is clenched, pressure builds up in the muscles, resulting in stiffness and soreness.
• Tooth sensitivity: Enamel degrades more quickly when teeth are ground. Your child’s teeth may become more sensitive to cold and heat as a result.
• Painful chewing: It’s possible that your baby will find it challenging to chew food.

The long-term effects of baby grinding teeth in babies include:

• Chipped teeth: The tooth is at risk of breaking if your baby keeps on grinding and clenching its teeth.
• Flattened teeth: Another possible outcome is that the baby eventually flattens a tooth as a result of repeated grinding.
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD): Pain and stiffness in the jaw are symptoms of this condition, which makes it harder to chew or fully open the mouth. Long-term, frequent tooth grinding can cause TMD in children.

You’ll be relieved to learn that bruxism is not a significant source of worry. Children naturally outgrow teeth grinding, so while it’s best to catch it and take action early to avoid potential tooth damage, the condition does not pose a serious health risk to your baby. Formal treatment is typically not necessary, but you can ease your baby into a more peaceful sleep by using a few comforting techniques to stop infant tooth grinding.

How to Deal With Baby Grinding Teeth?

Although teething and bruxism aren’t always related, they can coexist during a baby’s first year.

Providing your baby with a teething toy to gnaw on may help if you notice him grinding his teeth. You can experiment with a number of types to see which one works best.

• Tethers made of natural rubber feel plush and cozy, like Sophie the Giraffe by Vulli. They don’t contain phthalates or bisphenol A (BPA).
• Like Nuby Soother Rings, ice teethers contain a small amount of liquid that is chilled. Pain from teeth that are poking through the gums can be relieved by the coolness.
• Wooden teethers are soft and free of chemicals, like these Maple Teethers. They have inherent antimicrobial properties.
• When you’re out and about, silicone teething necklaces like Chewbeads are excellent. Anytime your baby feels like it, they allow them to chew hands-free.

There are many types of homemade teething products. Try wetting a washcloth mostly before folding it into quarters to deal with baby grinding teeth. After a few hours of freezing, let your child hold it by the dry quarter. They ought to feel relief from the cold and firmness.

Amber teething necklaces are sometimes used by parents as a teething aid. Whether or not these necklaces are effective is still up for debate. Before using one, it is best to consult your child’s physician. Anytime you put something around your baby’s neck, there is a real risk of strangulation. Before naps and bedtime, take the necklace off for your safety.

Stress can also result in bruxism, especially in older kids. If you believe your child is worrying or experiencing anxiety, try to address those concerns directly. Grinding at night might be lessened by a relaxing bedtime routine.

Consult your dentist if your baby develops pain or complications, or if they continue to grind their teeth throughout childhood. To protect your child’s teeth from long-term harm, there are specific mouthguards that can be fitted to their teeth specifically.

When to Call Your Doctor?

If you ever have a concern about your baby’s health because of baby grinding teeth, get in touch with your pediatrician. Most tooth grinding is mild and has no lasting consequences. However, keep an eye out for any changes in your baby’s dental health.

Report any irritability that might be brought on by clenching-related aches and pains like earaches, jaw pain, or other soreness.

Baby grinding teeth is common phenomenon babies who brux during sleep may also snore loudly or experience sleep apnea. Three reasons can cause baby grinding teeth. You can look at your baby by four signs, and help them deal with this. If you are concerned about their health, take the baby to your doctor.