It’s easy to think that snoring and restless nights are just normal parts of childhood, but they might signal something more serious.
Pediatric sleep apnea is a condition that many parents might not recognize as affecting their child’s sleep and overall well-being.
Understanding the signs and symptoms can help ensure your child gets the restful, healthy sleep they need to grow and thrive!
What Causes Pediatric Sleep Apnea?
Several factors contribute to the development of sleep apnea in children.
- Lack of Activity: Less active children might gain weight, which can increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Being Overweight: In children, excess body weight can lead to fat deposits around the upper airway, causing it to narrow and become obstructed during sleep.
- Genetics: If there’s a genetic predisposition to conditions like obesity or a family history of obstructive sleep apnea, a child may be at a higher risk for developing this condition.
- Not Getting Enough Sleep: When children don’t get enough sleep, their throat muscles can relax excessively, which may lead to airway obstruction. This can worsen mild sleep apnea or trigger central sleep apnea episodes, where the brain fails to send the proper signals to initiate breathing.
- The Lower Jaw is Too Far Back: A small or recessed lower jaw is a common physical cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. When the jaw is positioned too far back, it can narrow the airway, leading to breathing difficulties during sleep.
6 Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Apnea
- Constant Fatigue: Children with untreated sleep apnea experience frequent breathing interruptions at night, resulting in poor-quality sleep and daytime drowsiness. This fatigue can affect their daily activities, concentration, and overall well-being.
- Bad Grades: Sleep apnea causes frequent awakenings and fragmented sleep, resulting in trouble concentrating, memory issues, and daytime sleepiness. This can lead to academic struggles and lower grades in children.
- ADHD-Like Behavior: Children with pediatric sleep apnea often exhibit symptoms similar to ADHD, including difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.
- Snoring: While occasional snoring might not be a concern, consistently loud snoring—especially if accompanied by gasping or choking sounds—could indicate airway obstruction during sleep.
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can be a symptom of sleep apnea. When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the body may subconsciously clench the jaw to open the airway, leading to grinding. This can cause dental issues and disrupt sleep quality.
- Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis): Frequent sleep disruptions caused by sleep apnea can interfere with the body’s normal signaling to the bladder, potentially leading to bedwetting episodes.
How Can Early Orthodontic Intervention Mitigate the Risks of Pediatric Sleep Apnea?
Early orthodontic interventions, such as adjusting jaw alignment, expanding narrow dental arches, and correcting malocclusions or crowded teeth, can prevent or reduce the severity of sleep apnea by improving the structure of the upper airways.
Waiting until all permanent teeth have emerged might necessitate orthognathic surgery, which involves moving the lower jaw by approximately 10mm. Delaying intervention can lead to more invasive procedures, risking damage to nerves and delicate tissues, underscoring the importance of addressing these issues early.
3 Solutions for Pediatric Sleep Apnea
- Palatal Expanders: Dr. Lee provides palatal expanders for children who have difficulty with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy. These expanders work by gradually widening the upper jaw, which helps improve airway structure and reduce the severity of symptoms.
- Increased Physical Activity: For inactive children, increasing physical activity can help alleviate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms by opening up the airways and improving overall cardiovascular health. Regular exercise supports better airway function and contributes to overall well-being.
- Healthy Weight Management: Children can reduce the risk of sleep apnea by adopting healthy lifestyle changes, such as balanced nutrition and regular physical activity. Maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent fat deposits around the upper airways, which can lead to obstruction during sleep.
How Effective are Palatal Expanders toward Treating Pediatric Sleep Apnea?
By gradually widening the upper jaw, palatal expanders create more space in the upper airway, reducing the risk of obstruction during sleep. They are particularly beneficial for children with narrow dental arches, crowded teeth, or small jaws.
Palatal expanders work best during the developmental years when bones are still growing, allowing for easier adjustment. This proactive treatment helps avoid more invasive procedures like orthognathic surgery later on.
After completing the 14-month treatment, children may use a retainer or snore guard to maintain the results and keep their airways clear.
How Can Parents Monitor and Support Their Children’s Sleep Health?
Ensuring healthy sleep for children is essential for their physical and mental development. Parents play a crucial role in monitoring and supporting their children’s sleep health, helping them thrive both now and in the future.
- Recognize the Symptoms: Parents need to be aware of common symptoms of sleep apnea in children, including loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, trouble concentrating, and frequent nighttime awakenings. Recognizing these signs is crucial for early detection and timely intervention.
- Monitor Sleep Patterns: Observing your child’s sleep patterns can offer valuable insights into their sleep health. Signs such as restless sleep, pauses in breathing, or unusual sleep positions might indicate obstructive sleep apnea. Keeping a sleep diary to track these patterns can provide helpful information for a consultation with a sleep specialist.
- Encourage a Healthy Sleep Routine: Establishing a consistent bedtime routine helps maintain proper blood oxygen levels and supports overall cardiovascular health, reducing the likelihood of sleep apnea symptoms worsening.
- Address Risk Factors: Addressing health concerns, such as nasal congestion or chronic lung diseases, can support better breathing and help prevent airway obstruction during sleep.
- Get a Sleep Study: This overnight test monitors your child’s breathing patterns, blood pressure, and oxygen levels to assess the severity of the condition. Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, your healthcare provider can recommend treatments like positive airway pressure devices, oral appliances, or other interventions tailored to your child’s specific needs.
- Support Treatment Plans: For children diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, it’s crucial to follow the treatment plan prescribed by their sleep specialist. This may involve using CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy or oral appliances to manage the condition effectively.
Learn More about How Loudoun Orthodontics Can Help with Pediatric Sleep Apnea!
Contact Loudoun Orthodontics if snore guards are the solution to your dental woes. Whether you want to learn more about the benefits of orthodontic care or have questions about the process, use our live chat or call (703) 858-0303 or message us through our Contact Us page to connect with our friendly staff today and book a complimentary consultation!
Our office, located at 19465 Deerfield Ave. Suite 304, Leesburg, VA 20176, proudly serves the Loudoun County area, as well as the Lansdowne, VA area. So, if you’re residing in Ashburn, Leesburg, or Sterling and are looking for one of the best orthodontists in Northern Virginia, don’t hesitate to visit our office!
We also invite you to keep up with our blog to get answers to many of the frequently asked questions about maintaining your perfect smile, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to become a part of our smiling community!