Grinding Teeth

[Buttercup]

My little boy who is 4 keeps has just started to wake up in the night crying because his teeth are hurting him, I´ve heard him grinding his teeth at night and think this may be the problem. Has anyone else experienced this or know what to do? He has no pain during the day.

He is going to the dentist on Wednesday and I´m nervous that he won´t let the dentist look in his mouth. He can be very stubborn.

would welcome any advice,
thanks Kim

[rinksmum]

Hi Kim,

I'm afraid I can't really offer you much help (sorry!), but maybe a possible explanation?!

I don't really know much about this in kids, but I know a lot of people grind their teeth while they are asleep. A dentist once told me that we are able to exert 10 times the amount of pressure on our teeth while we are asleep, than we can when we are conscious (if that makes sense? Try clenching your teeth together, then times that by ten for what we can achieve while we're sleeping - or so the dentist said anyway!). As a result, some people wake up with a headache, and I imagine some people might also wake up saying their teeth hurt, like your son!

I'm sure your dentist will be able to help him...

Good luck!
Hannah

[Cheekychops]

My DS1 is 5 1/2 and he does it too! Really Loud!!! People have told me all sorts of reasons for it - a couple are: he could have worms!!! (which is a miracle cause he is given combantrim on a regular basis as we have animals) or he is having a nightmare......I don't know what it is, but he has just been to the dentist this week and it obviously hasn't started wearing down his teeth yet as she didn't mention anything.

However a teacher back at my highschool did it all the time in her sleep and ended up having to sleep with a plastic guard in her mouth (and sometimes during the day) cause she was ruining her molars!!!

[Buttercup]

Thanks to you both for your advice. He´s actually slept through the last 3 nights and he hasn´t been grinding his teeth when I´ve checked in his room, I see what the dentist says.
cheers guys.
Kim x