My Toddler Grinds Their Teeth and It's Causing Wear
The short answer
Teeth grinding (bruxism) is very common in children, affecting up to 30% of kids under age 5. Most children outgrow it. Mild grinding rarely causes lasting damage to baby teeth. However, if grinding is causing visible wear, pain, or sleep disruption, a pediatric dentist can evaluate and provide guidance.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Some babies begin grinding when their first teeth appear. They are exploring the new sensation of teeth touching. This is typically a phase that resolves on its own.
Teeth grinding is common at this age, often during sleep. It may sound alarming but usually does not cause significant damage to baby teeth. If your toddler seems to grind frequently, mention it at your dental visit.
If grinding persists and is causing visible wear on teeth, jaw pain, or headaches, a pediatric dentist should evaluate. Causes may include stress, allergies, or jaw alignment issues. Night guards are rarely used in toddlers.
Most children reduce or stop grinding as they mature. If significant grinding continues, ongoing dental monitoring is important to track tooth wear. Since these are baby teeth, significant damage is less concerning than it would be for permanent teeth.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Occasional grinding, especially when new teeth come in.
- Grinding is intermittent and your child seems comfortable.
- Teeth show minimal or no visible wear.
- Grinding is decreasing over time.
- Visible wear or flattening of teeth.
- Your child complains of jaw pain or headaches.
- Grinding disrupts sleep significantly.
- Teeth are cracking or breaking from grinding.
- Severe jaw pain or locking.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
My Toddler's Jaw Alignment Seems Off
Some jaw alignment variations in toddlers are normal and may resolve as the jaw grows and permanent teeth come in. Underbites, overbites, and crossbites in baby teeth do not always predict permanent tooth alignment. A pediatric dentist can monitor jaw growth and determine if early intervention is needed.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.
My Baby Crawls Unevenly
While some variation in crawling patterns is normal, consistently favoring one side or dragging one limb while crawling warrants attention. Babies should use both arms and both legs relatively equally when crawling. Persistent asymmetry could indicate muscle tone differences, hip issues, or neurological concerns that benefit from early evaluation.
My Baby Still Has the Fencing Reflex (Persistent ATNR)
The asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR, also called the fencing reflex) causes your baby to extend the arm on the side they are looking toward. It should integrate between 4-6 months. If the ATNR persists strongly beyond 6 months, it can interfere with bringing hands to midline, bilateral hand use, and rolling. Evaluation is recommended.