Worried about your kids grinding teeth at night, yellow teeth or crooked bite? Inner West paediatric dentist explains what’s normal, what’s concerning, and exactly when to book an appointment.
It’s 10:47pm. Your child is asleep. You hear one of your kids grinding teeth at night. So you begin googling and you discover it’s not just the grinding..
Too yellow? Too crooked? This grinding happens ‘every’ night!
The results are overwhelming and contradictory. Some articles say it’s fine. Others make it sound urgent. You close your phone more confused than when you started.
Here’s what you actually need to know.
I’m Dr. Caroline Nguyen, and I’ve spent over a decade treating children’s teeth in Sydney’s Inner West. These three concerns—yellow teeth, crooked teeth, and grinding—are the questions I hear most often from worried parents.
So let’s cut through the noise. Here’s your no-nonsense guide to what’s normal, what’s not, and exactly when you need to pick up the phone.
🦷 Yellow Teeth: Why Your Child’s Adult Teeth Look So Different
The Short Answer:
Usually completely normal. Don’t panic.
Here’s What’s Happening:
When your child’s first adult tooth pushes through—usually around age 6—it can look shockingly yellow sitting next to their baby teeth.
Parents often rush in thinking something’s wrong. I get it. The colour difference is dramatic.
But here’s the thing: Baby teeth are naturally brilliant white. They’re so white they’re literally called “milk teeth.” Adult teeth are a different shade—more cream, more ivory. That’s just how they are.
As more adult teeth come through and baby teeth fall out, the colour difference becomes far less obvious. By age 12 when most baby teeth are gone, parents usually forget they were ever worried about it.
⚠️ When Yellow Teeth ARE a Problem:
Book an appointment this week if:
- ✗ Only ONE tooth has changed colour (especially grey or dark brown)—this often signals nerve damage from a knock or fall
- ✗ You see hard yellow/brown buildup along the gum line—this is tartar and needs professional removal
- ✗ White or brown spots are appearing on the enamel—early signs of decay
What it might mean:
A single discoloured tooth usually indicates the nerve inside has died, sometimes from trauma that happened months ago. The sooner we see it, the more options we have.
🦷 Crooked Teeth: When “Messy” is Actually Normal
The Short Answer:
Often normal during ages 6-12, but needs monitoring.
Here’s What’s Happening:
Between ages 6 and 12, your child’s mouth is chaos. Baby teeth and adult teeth are fighting for space. Things look crowded, crooked, and frankly alarming.
This is called the “mixed dentition stage” and it’s supposed to look messy.
Why? Adult teeth are bigger than baby teeth. They’re coming through before the jaw has finished growing. It’s like trying to fit adult furniture in a kid’s bedroom—nothing quite fits yet.
Often (not always, but often), things settle as:
- The jaw grows
- More adult teeth come through
- Baby teeth fall out and make room
⚠️ When Crooked Teeth Need Intervention:
Book an orthodontic assessment (age 7-9) if:
- ✗ Teeth are severely crowded with no space between them
- ✗ Your child can’t bite or chew properly
- ✗ The jaw looks narrow or one side looks different from the other
- ✗ Your child still sucks their thumb or uses a dummy past age 3
Why early assessment matters:
We’re not necessarily putting braces on a 7-year-old. But early intervention—like a palate expander—can create space and prevent years of complex orthodontic work later.
The habit factor:
Thumb sucking and dummy use past age 2.5 physically pushes teeth forward over time. The damage is cumulative. The sooner the habit stops, the better the outcome.
🦷 Grinding Teeth: That Horrible Sound at Night
The Short Answer:
Very common. Most kids outgrow it. But monitor it.
Here’s What’s Happening:
Up to 3 in 10 children grind their teeth at some point—usually during deep sleep or periods of stress.
You hear it. That awful scraping sound. It sets your teeth on edge (pun intended).
The good news: Most children grow out of it naturally as their jaw develops and their bite stabilizes. It’s often stress-related (new school, new sibling, big changes) or simply how their body processes growth.
The less good news: Severe grinding can damage teeth over time if left unchecked.
⚠️ When Kids Grinding Teeth At Night Becomes a Problem:
Book an appointment if:
- ✗ Your child wakes with jaw pain or headaches
- ✗ You can see teeth physically wearing down (flattened edges, chipped enamel)
- ✗ Headaches are becoming regular
- ✗ Your child complains their face hurts in the morning
What we’ll do:
We’ll check for damage and assess their bite. If needed, we’ll create a custom night guard—a thin, comfortable appliance they wear while sleeping that protects their teeth and reduces jaw strain.
It’s not invasive. It’s not expensive. And it works.
The Bottom Line: Trust Your Gut
Most of what worries parents turns out to be completely normal development.
But.
Your parental instinct exists for a reason. If something genuinely doesn’t look right, if your gut is telling you something’s off, trust it.
That’s what we’re here for.
A quick check-up gives you peace of mind. And if there is an issue, catching it early means simpler, faster, cheaper treatment.
📞 What to Do Right Now
If you’re reading this at 11pm and spiralling:
Take a breath. Book an appointment tomorrow. Most of this can wait until morning.
If your child has any of the “book now” warning signs:
Call us at 02 9713 1760 or book online here.
If you just want peace of mind:
Same. Book a check-up. We’ll look, we’ll assess, we’ll tell you honestly whether you need to worry or not.
Dr. Caroline Nguyen is the founder and principal dentist at Vivid Dental in Five Dock, Sydney. She specialises in children’s dentistry and orthodontics, and is an Executive Council Member of the Australian Dental Association (NSW). She’s also a parent, and knows exactly what it’s like to Google your child’s symptoms at midnight.
Vivid Dental | Five Dock
📍 7 Garfield Street, Five Dock NSW 2046
📞 02 9713 1760
🌐 vividdental.com.au
🔖 This article first appeared in our launch edition of My Kids Dentist digital magazine. You can view the magazine online here.
This blog post is for educational purposes. Individual dental needs vary. Always consult with a qualified dentist for personalised advice.