Sleeping Issues Treatment For Kids

Snoring

Snoring occurs when the airway is obstructed during sleep. Typically, this happens due to the soft tissues colliding in the back of the throat. That collision creates a vibration, snoring. If your child snores, they are not alone. It is estimated that chronic snoring affects 24 percent of women, 40 percent of men, and 10 percent of children. Children might snore due to missing teeth, altering the shape of tissues within their mouth, a contributing factor to blocked airways. Causes of snoring are plentiful, including:

• Born with a narrow airway
• Low, thick, soft palate, elongated uvula, or large tonsils
• Sleeping position
• Overweight or obese
• Chronic nasal congestion
• Family history

Tiredness or fatigue throughout the day are common consequences of snoring and, when it is quite severe, your child might not be receiving sufficient oxygen at night. Feelings of illness or fatigue should be relayed to our office immediately. As your child snores, they are breathing with their mouth open, which creates dryness that can generate bad breath, bacteria buildup, tooth decay, infections, and sores.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the upper airway becomes blocked while asleep. As a result, the diaphragm and chest muscles have to work harder to open the airway to pull air into the lungs. Each breath can become extremely shallow, or briefly stop altogether before starting again with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. This condition can also lower the flow of oxygen to organs and create uneven heart rhythms. Since there are many other medical conditions that can cause these symptoms, we advise you to speak with us about it at your child's next dental appointment. Warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea include: