Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Thumb sucking is a natural response for children who usually do it because it helps console and comfort them.   This is a natural event for children and is not usually anything you need to be concerned about until they begin to get their permanent teeth. Some factors can damage the alignment of the teeth more so than other factors. Research shows that the intensity in which your child sucks their thumb along with how often they suck their thumb are two factors that can influence the potential damage to their teeth.   Most children will naturally stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2 and 4. If your child gets their permanent teeth and they are still sucking their thumb, you may want to begin helping support them to stop. You do not want to nag or punish your child for this behavior as it only may increase their need for comfort, thus increasing their desire to suck on their thumb. You may want to curb this habit if you begin to notice that the shape...

Does your child grind their teeth at night or during the day? Grinding their teeth can cause jaw problems but if not treated it can also cause cracked or broken teeth. As they chomp down and grind the teeth together it puts a ton of pressure on the jaw. Over time, the jaw muscle can hurt, making it difficult for your child to consume the foods they love. Here are three reasons your child may grind their teeth and ways to help. 1.      Stress is the number one cause of grinding. Reducing the amount of stress in your child’s life and having more fun can improve this habit. 2.      There is a correlation between children impacted by mouth breathing or sleep apnea and grinding. If your child is a mouth breather or impacted by sleep apnea, you may want to have them evaluated by a dentist in order to determine a course of action. 3.      Some medications can cause teeth grinding such as anti-depressants. If y...