“My child grinds their teeth!”
It sounds bad! It couldn’t possibly be a good thing…could it!?
Grinding teeth is also called bruxism. There are many reasons we have baby teeth, and bruxism at this stage is all just part of the process.
Teeth grinding is more common in children than we would think. Here are some quick facts:
- At least 3 in 10 children grind their teeth before turning 5 years old.¹
- Your dentist can determine how the bruxism is affecting your child’s teeth.¹
- Night grinding doesn’t only result from stress or anxiety. ²
Let’s reveal why grinding teeth, for our 1-7-year-old population, is surprisingly beneficial. The answer is: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
The majority of skull growth happens between the ages of 1-7 years old.
Bruxism stimulates bone remodeling which is essential for facilitating the growth of the head. When we understand this, grinding doesn’t seem to be nearly as stressful or concerning to parents, in particular moms. We are happy to reduce any stress from our Moms!
Time to get back to the grind!
Read more articles from Dr. Dax!
Should You Fill a Cavity in a Baby Tooth?
What is Baseline Oral Health, and why is it important for our family’s?
