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Escaping the Nightly Grind
When Your Child's Teeth Won't Sleep By Lisa Marie Metzler
Poor alignment, such as Smith's son experienced, can be developmental or hereditary. "Most inherited problems can be anticipated by looking at the facial structure of the parents," Dr. Ganeles says. "But if the child develops habits like thumb- or finger-sucking, or mouth-breathing due to nasal obstruction, facial structure can be altered. Habit-related tooth or jaw alignment alterations should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist or orthodontist when they are noticed, regardless of age."
Smith adds that she and her husband sometimes grind their teeth at night, and her husband uses a mouth guard to help eliminate his grinding. In fact, if a parent grinds teeth at night, the chances a child will do the same are greater. When permanent teeth come in, grinding usually stops because permanent teeth are more sensitive to clenching and pain.
If the problem persists, a temporary appliance like a nightly mouth guard can be used, although this is not usually necessary with preschool children. The appliance is similar to a plastic mouth guard used by an athlete to protect teeth. The guard is molded to your child's teeth to ensure a good and comfortable fit. It may take some time to adjust to the new appliance, but the teeth grinding habit may be broken quickly, making the appliance no longer necessary.
Hannah Hayes of Chicago, Ill., worries about her 7-year-old son, who has been grinding his teeth so much that they are now barely visible. He also chews his clothes, fingernails and fingers. "He's an outwardly happy, secure kid and always has been," Hayes says. "There's nothing that warants concern about stress, except his chewing."