Answered by Loraine Stern M.D.
"I adore children and being a pediatrician because of all the hugging and laughing that we do," say Loraine Stern, M.D.
Loraine Stern, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at U.C.L.A., has been in private pediatric practice for 35 years. Dr. Stern wrote for Woman's Day magazine from 1986 to 2005. She is a former editor of and contributor to Healthy Kids magazine. She has published two books on child care and has edited a book about pediatric nutrition for the American Academy of Pediatrics. A spokesperson for children and families, Dr. Stern has appeared on national networks and programs such as CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.
Dr. Stern has two stepchildren but no animals or even green plants.
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.
