My 10 Month Old Is Gritting His Teeth

Updated on May 10, 2007
D.L. asks from Houston, TX
10 answers

I am not sure if this is normal, but my son is cutting teeth and he just goot his top left tooth on Easter, but since then he has been gritting his teeth. I am not sure if he is trying to help the tooth next to it, which is breaking through the gums, or if he might just like gritting his teeth.

I make his stop when I hear him doing it, but that doesn't always help. Any one else have this problem with their chilren when they are teething?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom!! He has stopped gritting his teeth for the most part. I am sure it was to try and get the other top tooth out, because he stopped almost as soon as it came in! We got him some little teethers tablets and they seem to help him feel more comfortable and not need to grit! Thank you all again!!

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G.B.

answers from Houston on

my first 2 did it for months on end and it drove me crazy. the more attention you give it the more he will do it cause it is extra incentive. he will stop eventually. his gums are swollen and sore and also it is new to have teeth so he is exploring sensations. I expect my 5 mo old to start cutting any day and so expext to go through the grinding once again.

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A.V.

answers from Beaumont on

My kids did the same thing. I think it is cause they aren't used to it being there so they grind it. It is annoying but my kids finally quit doing it after awhile.

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B.G.

answers from Houston on

so is ours. not gritting, but clicking. two on bottom and one on top for front teeth. probably just a new sensation of having teeth. and the biting is beginning to happen as well.

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L.M.

answers from Beaumont on

My 9 month does this. It drives me nuts sometimes. I have yet to figure out how to make her stop. She has been doing it since she cut her first 4 teeth, which lucky me, all came through at the same time around 4 months. Yet no more since then.

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T.H.

answers from Houston on

My son does that also. He had started gritting his teeth when he was 14 months old. He doesn't it as often as he did then. He will be turning 2 on the fourteenth this month. I was told he could be just bored. Alex my son is an only child so he don't have anybody to play with. So I try to spend as much time with him as I can.

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T.S.

answers from Longview on

My kids did this too. It is partly because they have discovered something new they can do and partly because it probably does bother him a little if there are more teeth coming through.

Like someone else said, I just gave them something to chew on. They put everything in their mouths anyway so that is not too hard to get them chewing on something instead of grinding their teeth.

I definetly did not try to make them stop. They quit on their own. It was just a new novel thing at the time. Be ready, because it is going to be like that--they keep discovering new things they can do like take their diaper/clothes/shoes off, paint with their food, and other fun things. LOL I never encouraged or accepted any of it, just tried to move them past it by showing them another 'neat trick'. ;-)

Good luck,
ts

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R.G.

answers from Houston on

D.,

Yes, my 12 month old also does the same thing. He's got his four bottom and four top teeth. His side teeth at the top are now coming out. He does grind his teeth often. It is nerve racking but I assume it must feel good on his teeth.

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S.Y.

answers from Houston on

My son did the same thing when he was teething. It was very nerve racking and I was afraid if he continued it would hurt his teeth. When he started grinding I would offer him something to chew on instead, or his pacifier, and would put orajel on his gums. Luckily this phase didn't last long.

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A.T.

answers from Houston on

Hi D. -
It sounds like his gums maybe itchy and thats why he is gritting. Try some of the gum soothing gels, and see if that helps. And if he doesnt stop by the time the other tooth comes in, then I would become more concerned.
Good Luck! take care.

A.:)

1 mom found this helpful
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V.B.

answers from Houston on

My daugther did the same thing when she first got her top teeth. She still does it every once in awhile. I think they just like the new noise they can make. I'm not sure what you can do to stop it other than to try to distract them with something so that they forget about it. I would try not to make a big deal out of it or he might do it just for the attention. Sorry I don't have any better advice. I just ignored the behavior when my daughter would do it and try to get her interested in a toy (perhaps a teether??). She pretty much stopped doing it on her own.

Good luck!

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