Bruxism: Infant Grinding Teeth Issue and Its Fixes!

Teething is a typical phase in babies that irritates them to the core, and they develop coping mechanisms and techniques for teething pain, such as grinding. Infant grinding teeth don’t cause any long-term damage to the gums, but they need to be addressed by the dentist. 

Meanwhile, visit Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics for all your kid’s dental issues and get an expert opinion. From their first tooth eruption to teeth straightening, you will find solutions to all the dental problems under the same roof. 

What is Bruxism?

Teeth grinding, a common condition in growing kids, is also known as bruxism. Babies start grinding their teeth while sleeping or awake in this condition, and it goes away on its own.

According to studies, 20-30% of babies and 1 in 3 people grind their teeth while sleeping as a reaction to the stress that teething adds to their minds.

As a new parent, you might be concerned about such a habit of your baby, so don’t worry at all, as it’s all common. Here, we share some common symptoms of bruxism:

Why Do Babies Grind Their Teeth?

Teeth grinding starts when babies start teething, mainly at the age of six months. This behavior continues till they become a toddler or later on as well. Several factors explain why babies grind their teeth, addressing concerns about why your infant might be exhibiting this behavior.

Additionally, many others allow babies to explore their teeth to feel and understand their functions. When kids are happy or sad, they grind their teeth as a coping mechanism. 

Common Symptoms of Infant Grinding Teeth

If your baby has entered the teeth-grinding phase, you may notice this habit when they are awake or sleeping. However, you may also notice jaw or clenching motions during the daytime hours, which need attention. Here, we share a number of symptoms which are accurate indications of bruxism:

Natural Remedies to Prevent Teeth Grinding in Infants

Teething is a challenging phase for both parents and kids. If you are also a new parent and wondering how to stop your infant from grinding her teeth, we share some treatment options. 

The teething phase can be made easier with some practical strategies, such as offering your kid food items or teething toys. Here are some easy-to-perform home remedies that parents can do at home to help their infants. 

1: Using teethers

There are different types of teethers available that are soft and comforting for baby’s gums. They have no BPA (bisphenol A) or phthalates.

These include natural rubber tethers, ice teethers, and wooden teethers that are soft and chemical-free. 

In addition, silicone teethers such as chew beads are also suitable for babies, as they help them chew whenever they feel like doing so. 

2: Gentle massage

A gentle massage on the baby’s gums also offers them relief from teething pain for some time. To perform this, wash your hands thoroughly and provide your finger to comfort their gums. 

Gently massage the gums with bare hands or use any essential oil. Perform out for some time and do it again after some time. 

3: Ice Pack or warm press

If your baby is fussy for a longer duration, put an ice pack or warm and moist cloth on their jaws for 15 minutes. Use the cold and warm packs by switching to make them feel better. However, if they have swollen jaws, avoid using heat. 

How to Stop A Baby from Grinding Teeth?

For some babies, bruxism is unavoidable, but the good news is that it is harmless and can be treated with some home remedies.

Moreover, it goes away on its own as soon as your kid starts growing and entering into the next phase of increasing mature teeth. 

To stop the infant from grinding their teeth, you can use the teething toys and introduce solid food items that help them chew. Additionally, some home remedies, like using night guards, are helpful. 

Parents wondering about how to stop their baby from grinding their teeth during the day should make sure to perform a gentle massage once or twice a day.

Speak to the kid’s dentist and get personalized advice about how to make sure there’s no harm done to your baby’s teeth. 

FAQs

Is it normal for a baby to grind their teeth?

Teething is the stage of a baby grinding teeth from 10 months to almost two years of age. For growing babies, it’s normal and goes away on its own. However, the pain can be reduced by introducing teething toys. 

How do you stop a baby from grinding their teeth?

To stop babies from grinding new teeth, offer them cold teething toys, fluids, and solids. Make sure they get enough sleep and talk to their dentist to get personalized advice. 

How do you stop a child from grinding their teeth?

If you are a parent to a newborn, you can stop your baby from grinding their teeth by helping the kids relax during bedtime. A hot shower before sleeping can be helpful in relaxing their body muscles and gum pain. 

Is teeth grinding a form of autism?

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a symptom of autism in autistic children. It’s a form of autism but not untreatable as it goes away after some time and can be made easier with teething toys and night guards.