As a parent, there is nothing quite as peaceful as watching your child sleep. We often think that light snoring or the occasional toss and turn is just a sign of a deep slumber. However, what if I told you that some of these “cute” sleeping habits could actually be warning signs of a more serious issue? As a dental professional, I have dedicated a large part of my career to looking past just teeth and gums. I look at the whole health of my patients.
I am Dr. Sepehr Nassiripour, and today I want to guide you through a topic that is very close to my heart: Airway Dentistry and how we can detect Sleep Apnea in children. It might seem strange to visit a dentist for sleep issues, but the mouth is the gateway to the airway. By understanding the structure of your child’s mouth, we can unlock the secret to better health, better behavior, and a brighter future.
More Than Just a Bad Night’s Sleep
When we talk about sleep apnea, most people picture a middle-aged adult snoring loudly on the couch. But Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is surprisingly common in children, too. It occurs when the child’s breathing is partially or completely blocked repeatedly during sleep. This blockage prevents the brain and body from getting enough oxygen.
In my practice, I often see parents who are exhausted because their child is “bouncing off the walls” or struggling in school. They are often surprised when I start asking questions about sleep. The reality is that a child who isn’t sleeping well isn’t just tired; they are chemically unbalanced because their body is in a constant state of “fight or flight” during the night.
Detecting these issues early is crucial. The earlier we catch sleep-disordered breathing, the better we can guide the growth and development of your child’s face and airway.
The Hidden Signs: What Parents Should Watch For
Children are not just small adults. Their symptoms of sleep apnea often look very different from what you might expect. While adults tend to get sleepy during the day, children often become hyperactive. This is why sleep apnea is frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD.
Here are the signs I look for during an examination, and what you should look for at home:
Mouth Breathing
This is one of the biggest red flags. Humans are designed to breathe through our noses. The nose acts as a filter and a humidifier for the air we breathe. It also produces nitric oxide, a gas that helps our lungs absorb oxygen more efficiently. If your child sleeps with their mouth open, or if you notice them breathing through their mouth while watching TV or doing homework, it suggests their nasal airway is blocked or they have developed a poor habit. Mouth breathing can actually change the shape of their face, leading to a long, narrow face and a recessed chin.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Many parents tell me they can hear their child grinding their teeth from down the hall. In the world of airway dentistry, we view teeth grinding as a coping mechanism. When the airway relaxes and collapses during sleep, the body instinctively pushes the lower jaw forward to open the throat back up. This sliding motion causes the teeth to grind against each other. It is not just a bad habit; it is a survival reflex.
Bedwetting
If your child is past the age of potty training but still struggles with bedwetting, it might not be a bladder control issue. When a child struggles to breathe at night, their oxygen levels drop. This puts stress on the heart and signals the kidneys to produce more urine. It is a biological response to poor oxygenation. Correcting the airway often resolves the bedwetting almost like magic.
Restless Sleep
Does your child wake up with the covers on the floor, or do you find them sleeping upside down or in strange positions? A child who thrashes around is often subconsciously trying to find a body position that keeps their airway open.
The Role of an Airway Focused Dentist
You might be wondering, “Why should I see a dentist for this? Shouldn’t I see a doctor?” While pediatricians are essential, they often only get a quick look down the throat during a check-up. As an airway focused dentist, I spend a significant amount of time examining the oral cavity, the position of the tongue, and the shape of the palate (the roof of the mouth).
My goal is to identify the structural causes of breathing issues. Here is the connection: the roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nose. If a child has a high, narrow dental arch (a narrow palate), it means the floor of the nose is elevated, shrinking the nasal passage. This makes it physically difficult for the child to breathe through their nose.
Furthermore, a narrow mouth leaves no room for the tongue. The tongue has to go somewhere, so it often falls back into the throat, blocking the airway when the child lies down. By recognizing these structural limitations, I can help create a plan to physically expand the airway.
Data That Matters: The Scope of the Problem
It is easy to think, “My child will grow out of it.” However, the statistics suggest we need to be proactive. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is estimated that 1 to 4 percent of children suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, many experts believe this number is actually much higher because so many cases go undiagnosed.
Even mild sleep-disordered breathing can have a massive impact. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children with sleep-disordered breathing were 40 to 100 percent more likely to develop behavioral problems closely resembling ADHD. This data point is critical because it tells us that by fixing the sleep, we might be able to fix the behavior without medication.
How We Diagnose and Treat the Issue
When you come to my office, the process is gentle and non-invasive. We start with a conversation. I want to know about your child’s history, their mood, and their habits.
The Exam
I will look at the tonsils and adenoids to see if they are enlarged. I will check for a “tongue tie,” which is a tight band of tissue that tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth. If the tongue is tied, it cannot rest on the roof of the mouth where it belongs, which can lead to a narrow palate and airway issues.
The Sleep Study
If I suspect sleep apnea, we don’t just guess. We need data. In the past, this meant spending a scary night in a hospital sleep lab. Today, we often utilize home sleep tests. These are simple devices that your child wears in their own bed. It measures their oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing effort. This gives us a clear picture of what is happening when the lights go out.
Solutions That Help Your Child Thrive
The good news is that pediatric sleep apnea is treatable, and the results are often life-changing. As an airway focused dentist, I use a variety of tools to help open the airway.
Palatal Expansion
If the mouth is too narrow, we can use an appliance called a palatal expander. This is a common orthodontic device that gently widens the upper jaw. This does two amazing things: it creates room for the adult teeth to come in straight, and it widens the nasal floor, instantly improving nasal breathing. It is like widening a one-lane road into a two-lane highway for oxygen.
Myofunctional Therapy
Think of this as physical therapy for the mouth and tongue. We can widen the structure, but we also need to retrain the muscles. Myofunctional therapy involves exercises that teach the child how to keep their tongue on the roof of the mouth, keep their lips sealed, and breathe through their nose. This helps ensure that the results we achieve last a lifetime.
Collaboration
I believe in a team approach. Sometimes, the tonsils are simply too big and need to be removed. In those cases, I work closely with Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialists. We also collaborate with sleep physicians and myofunctional therapists. It takes a village to raise a healthy child, and it takes a team to protect their airway.
The Connection to Overall Health
Improving a child’s airway does more than just stop the snoring. It restores the oxygen their developing brain craves. When children get quality deep sleep (specifically REM sleep), their bodies release growth hormones. This is when their bones grow, their muscles repair, and their brains process the information they learned at school.
After treatment, parents often report incredible changes. They tell me their child is happier, doing better in math and reading, and is finally wetting the bed less. We even see improvements in posture. When a child struggles to breathe, they often hunch forward to open their throat. Once they can breathe freely, they stand up straighter.
For more in-depth information on the symptoms and medical treatments associated with this condition, I recommend reading this article from the Sleep Foundation on Sleep Apnea in Children. It is a fantastic resource for parents looking to educate themselves further.
Taking the First Step
If you are reading this and recognizing your own child in these descriptions, please do not panic. The fact that you are educating yourself means you are already taking the right steps. Sleep apnea and airway issues are mechanical problems with mechanical solutions.
I encourage you to look at your child tonight. Are their lips sealed? Are they breathing silently through their nose? If not, it is time to have a conversation. As an airway focused dentist, I am here to help you navigate this journey. We are not just straightening teeth; we are opening airways and opening doors to a healthier, happier life for your child. Let’s ensure they get the oxygen they need to reach their full potential.
