Question

Is teeth grinding while asleep normal for a 3-year-old?

Answer

While adults who grind their teeth may sometimes be showing signs of stress (my husband did that at the end of his first marriage), it is often normal for children to grind their teeth. It sounds like chalk on a blackboard and can drive adults nuts but usually does not cause serious problems.

If your child is under 1 year and has mainly incisors (the teeth in the front), there is nothing you need to do. By 3, she has molars and is grinding these larger teeth. A 3-year- old should have a dental checkup every 6 months, anyway, preferably by a pediatric dentist. He or she will check if the grinding is stressing the teeth or jaw. A mouth guard inserted at night is rarely necessary.