Teeth grinding

malcivar

Teeth grinding - awful sound isn't it?  Well Chris has taken to doing it all the time.  And it's loud - like you can hear it across the room loud.  I think he's doing it as a stim but can't confirm since when I did some research on it, it seems that this isn't uncommon of a child his age.  However, the frequency and the fact that he does it during the day and not when he's sleeping is what makes me think it's a stim.  He does it when he's singing, playing, whenever.  It's as if he likes the sound.

Anyway - how can I redirect him?  It's not like spinning or arm flapping where you can stop the spinning or maybe high five him.  I've tried rubbing his cheek and telling him to stop but I have absolutely no idea how to actually get him to stop.  

Suggestions? 

birdie_1010

I would provide another way to get some deep oral input. Chewy tubes, gum, blowing bubbles in a bucket with a long chewy tube, sucking a wet wash cloth are all things that come to mind right off hand. 

 

My oldest is a night time tooth grinder and that sound gives me some serious heebie jeebies.

pastalady

DD does this too. We just got her a cup with a really nubby thick straw. I give it to her to chew on when she needs it. I will press down on her shoulders too and she immediately stops. She needs the deep pressure.

I haven't gotten chewy sticks but will be getting those soon. When she is older I will try gum but worry about choking hazard right now. I know raw carrots and pistachios help, anything she really has to chew.

snydermom

My son does this. Sometimes it feels like its all day and sometimes not. I am new to all the different right or wrong ways to handle things like this. I try to rub his jaw or try and get him into a conversation with me to redirect from the grnding. But I always have a stash of lolly pops when the other fails. The sucking action keeps him from grinding.

I haven't heard of chewy sticks, what are those?