It will not be long until your baby's heart melting toothless grins makes way for sweet little teeth filled smiles.

During the first year of life, there is a lot going on in developing these amazing baby smiles. One of the most notable developments is teething.

As each tooth emerges, your little one looks for new ways to relieve the new sensation of discomfort in their tiny mouths. One way they may do that is grinding their teeth.

In most cases, this action isn’t anything more than simply trying to find relief or simply exploring their new found pearly whites.

Infants cannot verbally tell you what is bothering them, so it can be hard to know exactly what is going on. With that said, babies often leave clues that can help us glean what may be troubling to them.

Even though the sound of your little one grinding their teeth can be difficult to bear, it may be your little one’s way of communicating discomfort.

Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. 3 out of every 10 babies and children will grind or clench teeth, with many out growing it by preteen age.

Bruxism often happens during teething, deep sleep phases, or when kids are under stress.

Your baby’s first tooth might appear in his mouth as early as 4 months after birth.

Throughout the first year and onto the second you can start counting on these small eruptions causing pain.

This is when you might start to notice your little one grinding his or her new teeth.

Absolutely. In some cases, babies may grind their new found teeth because the top and bottom are not aligned properly. Some littles may do it as a response to pain from an earache or teething.

Older kids might grind their teeth as a way to ease the pain or just as they might rub a sore muscle. The good news-many kids outgrow these fairly common causes for teeth grinding.

Bruxism is a medical condition where your baby regularly grinds his teeth. When it affects your baby it can happen during the day or at night.

During the evening hours, it’s known as sleep bruxism also known as evening teeth grinding. In most cases these episodes are mild and don’t require any treatment.

The first step is to know the symptoms of bruxism in babies.

✅ Teeth grinding or jaw clenching

✅ Grinding loud enough to hear

✅ Damaged or worn teeth

✅ Jaw pain or soreness

✅ Earache or headache near temples

Remember infants cannot verbally tell you what’s bothering them, so the sound of the grinding teeth can be very difficult to bear. Rest assured your baby is probably just fine.

Many babies and children outgrow teeth grinding naturally after teething pain subsides. No other treatment is needed. Complications from baby teeth grinding teeth at this age are rare.

Teething can be so hard on little ones especially as they get older and molars start to work their way to the surface. If you notice your teething baby grinding his teeth, try offering some soothing items to ease tired sore gums.

There are a variety of types of soothing items you can test out to see which one works best. It is important to note that just like making sure your baby formula is toxin free, is it equally imperative that you make sure that your little ones' teething toys are free from unwanted additives.

Some of our favorite soothers use organic materials such as natural rubber tethers and wooden tethers that are soft and chemical-free and can be naturally antimicrobial.

Homemade teething aids are also great and use materials you have at hand. Try wetting most of a washcloth and folding it into quarters. Then freeze for a few hours and let your baby hold it by the dry quarter. The cold and firmness should bring them relief.

For toddler and small children, bruxism can also be caused by stress such as sudden changes in the family. Keep in mind that your child may not have the words yet to express the feeling of being overwhelmed or confused.

If you suspect your little one’s tooth grinding has something to do with worries, try to speak with your child about those issues that may be bothering them. If your baby continues grinding their teeth throughout childhood, or develops pain or complications it is a good idea to check with your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to help find relief.

In many cases bruxism causes no ill effects; however, in some cases, prolonged nighttime grinding and clenching can wear down tooth enamel, chip teeth, increase temperature sensitivity, and cause severe facial pain and jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ).

In these cases working with your health care professional can help tremendously. Some signs to watch for:

❌ Grinding noises when your child is sleeping

❌ Complaints of a sore jaw or face after waking up in the morning

❌ Pain with chewing

If you think your child is grinding his or her teeth, visit the dentist, who will examine the teeth for chipped enamel and unusual wear and tear, and spray air and water on the teeth to check for unusual sensitivity. A custom night guard is usually prescribed to help alleviate tooth trauma.

Bruxism is a child's natural reaction to growth and development, and in most cases can't be prevented. Most babies will stop grinding when the last of their baby teeth come in and rarely when the last of the adult teeth replace baby teeth.

For the older child, stress-induced bruxism can be avoided, though. By talking with kids regularly about changes in the household (such as a new baby) it can help them deal with stress.

Lastly, by taking kids for routine dental visits, you can help find and treat damages caused by bruxism.

At every step of your parenting journey, My Organic Company is here for support and encouragement. We not only offer the very best in European baby formulas, we have also taken the time to build a place to meet with other parents, caregivers, and European baby formula experts.

In the HiPP Holle Kendamil & European Baby Formula Parent Community we discuss the topic you care about and share the latest updates in the European baby formula world. We look forward to meeting you there!