Have you noticed that your child has difficulty breathing while asleep? In children, facial shape development may be adversely affected by mouth breathing at night. Sleep breathing disorders can also impact your child’s overall health and is linked to hyperactivity. A recently published article has children with snoring, apnea or mouth breathing are 40% – 100% more likely to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Pete Nathe of Yakima Smiles can help! Contact our office at (509) 965-7909 to learn more about pediatric sleep disordered breathing in Yakima, Washington, and make your child’s appointment with our dentist.
If a child is a mouth breather, his or her tongue won’t rest on the roof of the mouth, which often results in an underdeveloped upper jaw and restricted forward growth of the lower jaw. Along with the concern of crowding, incorrect development of the upper jaw can affect a child’s breathing by restricting airway. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is associated with narrow faces and small jaws. There is simply not room for the tongue and, at sleep it obstructs the airway. It’s like parking a semi-truck in a garage built for a compact car.
Early evaluation for the signs of poor jaw development is increasingly becoming a treatment option more dentists, orthodontists and medical practitioners are implementing.
As well as affecting jaw and facial development, the medical profession now recognizes that mouth breathing is abnormal and is also one of the main contributors of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) problems.
Symptoms commonly associated with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) can include:
- Snoring, gasping, open mouth posture at night
- Morning tiredness and daytime fatigue
- Developmental and behavioral problems
- Interrupted sleep
- Hyperactivity
- Withdrawal
- Executive dysfunction
- Depression
- Learning difficulties
- Social issues
- Bed Wetting
The Bolton Analysis
Advanced computer- generated analysis of your child’s facial growth to assess for proper development, optimal aesthetics and HEALTH.
At Yakima Smiles, Dr. Pete Nathe is happy to do this at no charge.
