About Me

Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

Search

Latest Posts

Show Your Teeth Some Respect

What You Need To Know When Your Child Grinds Their Teeth

by April Myers

Does your child have a bad habit of grinding their teeth, and you are wondering what you should do about it? If so, here is what you need to know about children that grind their teeth.

Your Child's Baby Teeth Has Thinner Enamel

Don't assume that it is fine for your child to grind their teeth because they still have their baby teeth. A child is actually more likely to damage their teeth due to grinding because the enamel on their baby teeth is thinner when compared to adult teeth. They are more likely to cause damage to their teeth due to teeth grinding, which is why you cannot ignore it. The damage in baby teeth tends to happen fast.

Meanwhile, permanent adult teeth have a much tougher layer of enamel, and it will be harder to start seeing the damage that is caused.

Your Child May Not Feel Pain

Another mistake when it comes to any sort of dental work is to assume that things are fine because there is no pain. Your child may not even feel pain or increased sensitivity from the grinding, even if your child has worn down their teeth a significant amount. This means that you need to act early, and you'll notice by looking at their teeth or observing their behavior. 

Adult teeth will be much more sensitive than baby teeth when the surface of enamel has been worn down. You may find that breathing or drinking beverages will cause teeth to feel increased sensitivity in places where the enamel is now weak.

Your Child Can Try Wearing A Mouthguard

One option to prevent teeth grinding is to have your child wear a mouthguard. Your dentist will make a recommendation for what to do based on the state of your child's teeth. For example, your dentist may not recommend a custom-fit mouthguard if they are in the process of losing their baby teeth, since their mouth will change. It will likely be used when most of the adult teeth have come in.

Consider starting with a basic mouthguard to see if your kid will tolerate wearing one. These can be customized by boiling the mouthguard to make the material soft, and then have your child bite down on the mouthguard so it forms to the shape of their teeth. If this works out, your dentist can make a more comfortable custom mouthguard that will be easier to wear.

Fore more information, contact a family dentistry

Share