3 Year Old Teeth Grinding at Sleep

Updated on March 25, 2007
V. asks from Mason, OH
6 answers

My daughter just turned 3 and for the past couple of weeks I have noticed that she grinds her teeth during sleep. Any mom out there with similar situation or may be a solution?

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So What Happened?

Thankyou for all the good advice. I hope it is part of her growth process and gets over after certain years.

More Answers

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C.C.

answers from Toledo on

Hi.my daughter is 7 now and she used to grind her teeth also but she stopped so i think they just grow out of it!i hope that was helpful enough!!

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F.R.

answers from Columbus on

Hi there! My son also has grinded his teeth since he was about 3. He is now 5. Our Peds/DR said to keep an eye on it, it is just a comfort reflex (kinda like when/if they had a picifier). My son still does it from time to time, they should grow out of it - but if not there are teeth guards avail. to wear while sleeping. Good luck.

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T.D.

answers from Columbus on

I agree with Kari. There isn't much else you can do about it but protect her teeth and gumline at night. I'm 33 and have been grinding in my sleep practically my whole life.I now have to constantly maintain flossing and listerine rinse,plus guard at night because of the periodontal damage done by grinding. My gums are trying to protect themselves and are retracting from the gumlime. When I'm stressed it tends to get worse and I suffer headaches the next day.
There is an OTC dentalguard you make yourself in the dental section of most your pharmacy. For the dentist to make one it's roughly $300-$500. My husband works for a health insurance co. and we're fortunate they covered half but they normally only cover one for life. Since she is a growing child you have to go OTC.best of luck getting it to work since she is so young.Also moniter her sugar intake. I'm sure you already do but because of the grinding ,teeth tend to be weaker and more like susceptipble to cavities.

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T.P.

answers from Dayton on

Hello!
We have a son, who has also just turned 3. He has been grinding his teeth for awhile now, and like others have reported, I have talked with my dentist, who said that there really isn't much that can be done.
I clench my jaw when I sleep and have tried a mouth guard, only to find that I have taken it out in my sleep and lost it somewhere in the sheets!
So, all of that to say that it is a pretty normal thing and we just have to try to keep an eye on it to be certain that they aren't doing any damage to their teeth...
Good luck!

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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

go get a cheap mouth gaurd, boil it for a couple minutes and once it is cool enough have her bite into it so it forms to her teeth and then have ehr wear it every night, easier said than done but we had the same problem with our 5 year old and the only other option the dentist had was to get a mouth gaurd made for her but they are expensive and not covered on insurance. good luck.

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T.B.

answers from Tampa on

HI V.,

More older son used to grind his teeth nightly. It started around the age of 3. I talked to the dentist and he said there really isn't much you can do and they grow out of it. I didn't really like that answer!! He is now 5 and rarely grinds his teeth anymore. Hope this helps.

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