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Parents
STRAIGHT, PRETTY TEETH ARE THE END RESULT OF A HEALTHIER, BETTER FUNCTIONING SYSTEM.
The root cause of Sleep-Disordered Breathing is the child’s tongue. Learning difficulties, teeth grinding, restless leg syndrome, night terrors, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, aggression, stunted growth; all these symptoms could be related to SDB. Normal children have oxygen levels of 95% to 95% while sleeping. Children with SDB have oxygen levels as low as 80%, which can cause permanent damage to the brain.
Facial Development and Airway Health are Always Related
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A healthy airway tends to be a catalyst for healthy growth and development in children. Conversely, a compromised airway tends to be a catalyst for unhealthy sleep and breathing.
Nasal Breathing
Why should your child breathe through their nose?
Benefits of nasal breathing include:
- Warms, moistens and filters the air
- Traps large particles
- Facilitates inhalation of nitric oxide
- Helps prevent colds, flu, allergic reaction, hay fever, irritable coughing
- Prevents throat and nasal dryness
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Promotes activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms and relaxes the body
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mouth breathing in children include:
- Poor performance in school
- Difficulty paying attention
- Learning problems
- Behavioral problems
- Under/Over weight
- Hyperactivity
- ADD/ADHD type symptoms
- Snoring
- Pauses in breathing
- Restless sleep
- Snorting, coughing or choking
- Mouth breathing
- Bed wetting
- Sleep terrors
Snoring is not normal. If your child is snoring, it could be due to a compromised airway. leading to improper facial development.
The Dangers of Pediatric
Sleep Apnea
If you thought that only adults can suffer from sleep apnea, you’re wrong! Sleep apnea can occur at any age. Sleep apnea is when an adult or child stops breathing during sleep. It usually happens because something obstructs or blocks the upper airway. This is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
OSA interrupts sleep and can make the body’s oxygen levels fall or carbon dioxide levels rise. This can make kids miss out on healthy, restful sleep. Consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Learning difficulties
- Failure to thrive
- Behavioral issues (often leads to misdiagnoses of ADD/ADHA)
- Poor growth & development
- Heart problems
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Want to learn more about kids and sleep disordered breathing/facial development?
Tongue Tie
In the short term, a tongue tie can lead to
- Breastfeeding problems
- Speech difficulties
- Poor Oral Hygiene
If left unresolved, a tongue tie can lead to
- Improper facial development
- Compromised Airway
- Sleep & TMJ problems
BEFORE RELEASE
AFTER RELEASE (2 YEAR FOLLOW-UP)
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy is a natural, non-invasive program that is used to help correct habits, improve facial muscle function, and support proper development.
When it comes to kids, it’s about proper facial growth and an optimal airway.
Goals of myofunctional therapy are: to help your child gain better control of their tongue, to learn to breathe through the nose with their mouth closed and position their tongue at the roof of the mouth when they are at rest.
When these goals are achieved, it can result in more optimal growth and development, a healthier airway, better facial balance and appearance, healthier jaw joints, and better sleep.
A Strong Profile Is About Much More than Good Looks
“Proper facial development” is a term that is becoming more and more popular in dentistry and orthodontics.
Proper facial development refers to the top and bottom jaws growing up and out on the head, instead of down and back. This not only leads to better looking faces, it also can lead to long term health benefits including:
- A larger airway
- Healthier Jaw Joints
- Better breathing and sleep habits
- More optimized overall growth and development
