A 48-year-old member asked:
Will using a pacifier stop teeth grinding during sleep?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Maurice Lindlyanswered
Dentistry 38 years experience
Maybe. See below.: I assume you mean in children. The use of a pacifier to stop children from grinding is not what i would recommend. Grinding at night can result from stress. Take your child to a pedodontist for evaluation and treatment options.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. John Liu commented
Dentistry 35 years experience
If you are talking about using a pacifier for a child who is grinding, I would agree that it isn't recommended. Most children will grow out of grinding at night unless either mom or dad as adults grind their teeth. Then studies do show a high percentage of kids with parents who grind their teeth as adults will grow up to be grinders as adults.
Aug 27, 2012
Dr. Heidi Nelsonanswered
Dentistry 43 years experience
Unlikely See dentist: Probably not. Nighttime grinding in children (or adults!) can be related to sleep disordered breathing. The child may not be getting enough oxygen during sleep, or may have actual episodes of apnea. Have a dentist check the size and shape of the jaws, tongue size and position and tonsils/adenoids. Does the child snore? You may need referral to a pediatric ENT for further evaluation.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 36-year-old member asked:
I can't stop grinding my teeth in my sleep, help?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sandra Eleczkoanswered
Dentistry 36 years experience
Sleep bruxism: Many times sleep bruxism is a part of sleep apnea. If you snore, are frequently tired, are overweight , have gerd, acid reflux, or hypertension then get evaluated for sleep apnea. A nightguard will help protect your teeth from damage from grinding but this alone will not help if you have sleep apnea.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Apparently i grind my teeth when i sleep. How would i stop this?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Steven Benderanswered
Dentistry 35 years experience
Sleep bruxism: To date, there is no treatment that can completely and permanantly stop this sleep related movement disorder. Oral splints can reduce the effects of the activity but they will not stop it. There has been some research that has shown that oral devices used to treat snoring and sleep apnea have significantly reduced sleep bruxism (sleep tooth grinding) as well.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jun 23, 2015
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