Re:3 yr old grinding teeth

[Guest guest]

Our now almost 4 year old was a grinder too. He did this for 2 different

reasons. The first was when he was a toddler, and eating his food. Every time I

spoon fed him, he ground his teeth when he swallowed. I know that it was

sensory and coordination related. I found a feeding spoon from Talk Tools, with

a texture on the bottom, so that when I fed him, it cued him to close his lips.

It is more of an infant spoon, but I think the concept is important---to use

textures, that cue the right movement of his lips. The other situation, was just

the level of tension in the house, and this is how he was expressing it. He

would play and grind his teeth. I just would get down at his level and talk

soothingly to him, rubbing his cheeks softly (if he let me), until he stopped.

Then I did give him a chewy tube, or something that he could chew on.

He eventually stopped these things, but still to this day, he clenches his teeth

sometimes. Here again, I know this is a coordination/sensory issue. My prayer

is that the grinding will stop before he gets his permanent teeth in! He has

worn down his front teeth some.

By the way, I did take him to the dentist when he started all this, and he said

they were okay, just to keep them clean and give him the right diet. Well,

since we are eating gluten, casein, and sugar free, that is not an issue.

Kim, mommy to Josiah and iel

Then he touched their eyes and said, " According to your faith let it be done to

you. " 9:29