Grinding your teeth can cause the enamel to wear down quicker and lead to cavities or sensitive teeth. Some toddlers grind their teeth without realizing how harmful it can be to their teeth. If your child is grinding their teeth there are some tips you can try to help prevent unnecessary grinding. The Moose Dentist can help children with many dental issues or educate them on how to best take care of their teeth. Our office is a comfortable space for children to learn and be taken care of. 

Have A Soothing Bed Time Routine

The most common reason for toddlers to begin grinding their teeth is because their bite does not line up or they are stressed. One way to help limit stress before sleeping can be to create a soothing bedtime routine. This can include leaving plenty of time for proper brushing, listening to soothing sounds or music, and reading them a book to help them relax. 

Helping to limit stress at school or at home with other siblings can curb the habit of grinding teeth. Once children move through a stage in life or stress starts to subside, the grinding may stop on its own. Toddlers usually grow out of grinding their teeth or it may only happen during the day, but if the problem continues to occur, contact your dentist. 

Treat Pain Of Growing Teeth

Another reason for babies or toddlers to grind their teeth is the pain of new teeth. Grinding may help to stop the pain temporarily or be a way to distract them. Giving children medicine or helping them to think about something else besides the pain, can help them stop grinding their teeth. 

Babies who are teething can chew on teething toys or frozen fruit to help numb the pain of new teeth. 

Ask Clearly For Them To Stop

Some children may not realize what they are doing can be harmful to their teeth. Talking to the child, if they are old enough to understand, can help them see how important their teeth are and that grinding their teeth is not something they should be doing. 

Teaching children about enamel and how to properly care for their teeth can be fun! With many children’s books and online resources, learning about the dentist and teeth can be a fun learning experience for toddlers. 

Visit Your Dentist For Help

If you have tried all the methods you can think of, you can talk to your dentist about how to help your child. Dentists may be able to give them a mouth guard to wear at night if they are mostly grinding in their sleep. Dentists may be able to apply sealants or coatings to a child’s teeth to protect their top enamel from wearing down. 

Our dentists at The Moose Dentist know about many things that children experience and how it can be hard to teach children how fragile and important teeth can be. Making our practice safe and comfortable is our top priority. We have filled our office with bright colors, kid friendly activities, and our staff knows how to work with kids. Trusting us at The Moose Dentist with your children is a big deal, so we provide virtual tours of our office and our staff can talk to you and answer any questions you may have. 

We treat each patient like they are our own children and help to give you the best advice for any issue they may be experiencing. We believe in a gentle approach and are sensitive to dental anxiety and fear that children may experience. Contact us today to learn more about our practice.

If you have a child that is ready to lose their baby teeth, they may have refused to pull them on their own. But should you pull their loos baby teeth? Our pediatric dentists at The Moose Dentist can help children with loose teeth and give advice to parents on how to best care for baby teeth and emerging adult teeth.

Why Baby Teeth Wiggle

Loose baby teeth come when the new adult teeth have begun to poke through. They usually come up right behind the baby tooth and can cause the baby teeth to wiggle back and forth. Front teeth usually become loose first but if your child is losing teeth out of order or they have experienced a fall lately, contact your dentist. 

Is It Causing Your Child Pain?

If you are thinking it would be best to pull your child’s baby teeth, there are some factors you should consider. The first factor is if the tooth is causing your child pain, or if pulling the tooth is painful. If the tooth is painful, you can contact your child’s dentist and find out the best course of action.

Don’t force your child’s baby teeth out of their mouth. This not only can be painful for them, but these teeth will fall out eventually on their own, so there is no rush. If your child does need their baby teeth removed in a more timely manner, your dentist may be able to pull them. 

Is The Tooth Still Rooted?

Some baby teeth can become loose but still be connected by roots inside your child’s mouth. If the tooth is still attached to the gums and does not move when tugged on, there is no need to interfere. 

Baby teeth will often fall out on their own, so pulling teeth is only necessary if it is causing your child trouble. 

The Best Way To Help Remove Baby Teeth

Although it is recommended to let teeth fall out on their own, there are some ways that you can help remove baby teeth. 

The best way to have children remove their baby teeth is to use their tongues to wiggle the tooth out of their mouth. This also keeps bacteria out of their mouth and doesn’t apply too much pressure. 

If your child is constantly touching or wiggling their tooth, have them bite down on an apple. The force of biting an apple may help dislodge the tooth or loosen it without damaging gum tissues. 

If the loose tooth is sensitive give them soft foods to prevent pain while eating. Make sure that children are still brushing and flossing normally with soft motions. If the tooth is loose for a long time, you can contact our dentists to help properly remove the tooth from the child’s mouth. 

The Moose Dentist

The Moose Dentist works hard to make all children comfortable and at ease while visiting the dentist. We know that lots of children can have dental anxiety and visiting the doctor or dentist is a very painful experience. Our dentists know how to deal with the behaviors of children and our therapy dog is great at greeting our patients. 

Pediatric dentists are perfect for treating baby teeth and giving advice that works best for little kids. With our offices in Pleasant View and Farmington, you can schedule your visits with us that won’t interrupt your entire day. Helping your kids have healthy teeth is our top priority, and proper oral care can only be accomplished with regular dental visits. Contact our office today or take a virtual tour on our website before you come for your appointment.