The negative impacts of underdeveloped jaws.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops for several seconds or longer during sleep. These interruptions can happen many times throughout the night, leading to poor sleep quality, reduced oxygen levels, and various health complications. In children, sleep apnea may result from factors such as an underdeveloped jaw, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity, or certain medical conditions like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. Signs of sleep apnea in children can include snoring, gasping for air during sleep, restlessness, and excessive daytime sleepiness
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children includes irregular breathing during sleep, such as snoring and sleep apnea, which can have serious health effects. One key contributor to SDB is mouth breathing. When a child habitually breathes through the mouth, it can cause changes in tongue posture and jaw position, often narrowing the upper airway. This makes airflow less efficient and increases the risk of partial airway blockages during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing and reduced oxygen intake. Understanding the link between mouth breathing and SDB is essential for addressing these issues and supporting healthy sleep and overall well-being. Our doctors work to correct mouth breathing, train the tongue to rest on the roof of the mouth, and prevent or improve symptoms of SDB.
Large Tonsils/Adenoids
Tonsils can become enlarged as a result of chronic mouth breathing. Breathing through the mouth, especially during sleep, can irritate the tonsils and cause them to swell. Additionally, chronic mouth breathing can dry out the nasal passages, prompting the tonsils to enlarge in an effort to humidify and filter the air entering the lungs. Over time, this ongoing irritation and swelling can lead to persistently enlarged tonsils, narrowing the airway and potentially contributing to sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by disrupted breathing during sleep.
Sleep Talking/Walking
Children with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, often experience frequent awakenings and difficulty breathing during sleep, which increases arousal from deep sleep. This can lead to episodes of sleepwalking and sleep talking, where the child walks or talks during sleep without full awareness. Sleep-disordered breathing can also fragment sleep, reducing the amount of restorative deep sleep and further increasing the likelihood of these behaviors. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help lower the risk of sleepwalking and sleep talking while improving overall sleep quality.
ADD/ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by challenges with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. Emerging research indicates a potential connection between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and the onset or worsening of ADHD symptoms in children. SDB—including snoring and sleep apnea—can disrupt sleep and cause intermittent drops in oxygen levels, reducing overall sleep quality. These disruptions may contribute to cognitive and behavioral difficulties, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which are core features of ADHD. By addressing underlying sleep-disordered breathing through guided appliance treatment, it may be possible to positively influence sleep quality and support the management or reduction of ADHD symptoms in children.
Bedwetting
Bedwetting can sometimes be a sign of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Kids with SDB often experience frequent awakenings and difficulty breathing during sleep, which increases arousal from deep sleep. This heightened arousal can disrupt normal bladder control, leading to bedwetting. Sleep-disordered breathing can also reduce the production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which helps regulate urine during sleep, further contributing to bedwetting. Proper diagnosis and treatment of SDB can help decrease the risk of bedwetting and improve overall sleep quality.
Digestion
Mouth breathing, especially during sleep, can affect digestion. Breathing through the mouth rather than the nose can reduce saliva production, which is important for breaking down food and starting the digestive process. Mouth breathing can also cause swallowing more air, leading to increased gas, bloating, and discomfort. In contrast, nasal breathing promotes a relaxation response in the body that supports proper digestion, whereas mouth breathing may disrupt this balance and interfere with efficient digestive function.
Crooked Teeth/Malocclusion
Mouth breathing can play a role in the development of crooked teeth and misaligned dental arches. When a child consistently breathes through the mouth instead of the nose, it can interfere with the natural growth and positioning of the jaw and facial bones during key developmental stages. Normally, the tongue rests against the palate, supporting proper growth and alignment. Mouth breathing can lower tongue posture and reduce pressure on the upper palate, causing it to narrow and leaving insufficient space for teeth to emerge, which may lead to crowding and misalignment. Mouth breathing can also disrupt the balance of oral muscles, creating uneven forces on the teeth and contributing to malocclusions. Early intervention with guided appliance treatment to correct mouth breathing can help prevent these orthodontic issues and support proper facial and dental development.
Snoring
Snoring is a common sign of sleep-disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, causing repeated awakenings and difficulty breathing. These interruptions can make the throat muscles tense, creating the vibrations that produce snoring. Snoring may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as choking or gasping for air, restless movement during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing can improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of related health issues.
Asthma
Asthma and sleep-disordered breathing can be interconnected, with each condition potentially worsening the other. Individuals with asthma are at higher risk for sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing is repeatedly disrupted during sleep. These interruptions can aggravate asthma symptoms and increase airway inflammation. Conversely, sleep apnea can intensify asthma by causing chronic fatigue, impairing lung oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, and increasing oxidative stress. Proper treatment of both conditions is essential for improving overall health and reducing symptom severity.
Night Terrors
Night terrors can sometimes indicate sleep-disordered breathing in children. Kids with SDB often experience frequent awakenings and difficulty breathing during sleep, which increases arousal from deep sleep. This heightened arousal can trigger night terrors, marked by screaming, thrashing, and a sense of fear during sleep. SDB can also fragment sleep, reducing deep restorative sleep and further raising the risk of night terrors. Proper diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing can help lower the risk of night terrors and improve overall sleep quality.
Speech Results
Children with speech delays often have underlying oral muscle dysfunction, such as incorrect swallowing or tongue-thrusting patterns, which can contribute to sleep-disordered breathing. When the airway is partially blocked during sleep, it can lead to fragmented, low-quality sleep, impacting the child’s ability to focus, learn, and develop speech and language skills. In some cases, addressing sleep-disordered breathing can support improvements in speech and language development. Additionally, myofunctional therapy to correct oral muscle dysfunction can enhance breathing during sleep and help reduce the risk of sleep-disordered breathing.
Depression/Anxiety
Sleep-disordered breathing can interrupt normal sleep patterns, resulting in poor-quality sleep and added stress on the body. This disruption may contribute to the development of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and reduced oxygen levels. These interruptions lead to repeated arousals throughout the night, further fragmenting sleep. The cumulative effect of poor-quality sleep and frequent awakenings can increase stress on the body and may play a role in the development of depression and anxiety.
Persistent Cavities
Cavities can develop as a result of mouth breathing due to the decreased production of saliva. Saliva helps to neutralize the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, keeping the teeth healthy. When a person breathes through their mouth, particularly during sleep, the air flow can cause the mouth to become dry, leading to decreased saliva production. The lack of saliva can allow the bacteria in the mouth to thrive, leading to an increased risk of cavities. In contrast, nasal breathing helps to humidify and filter the air, reducing the risk of dry mouth.
Grinding/Clenching
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) often result from abnormal muscle activity in the face, jaw, and throat, which can be triggered by repeated arousals from sleep and efforts to keep the airway open. Children with sleep-disordered breathing frequently experience awakenings and difficulty breathing during sleep, increasing muscle tension in the face and jaw. This tension can lead to grinding and clenching, which may cause discomfort and damage to the teeth and jaw. Additionally, bruxism can further narrow the airway, potentially worsening sleep-disordered breathing and creating a cycle of repeated awakenings and breathing difficulties.
Headaches
Headaches can be linked to sleep-disordered breathing, as poor-quality sleep and reduced oxygen levels may lead to tension headaches or migraines. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, often causes frequent awakenings and fragmented sleep, which can trigger headaches.
Ear Infections
When a child has a small jaw, it can create a narrow or constricted upper airway, making it harder for air to flow freely. This can increase the likelihood of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing, both of which may contribute to ear infections. The Eustachian tube, which links the middle ear to the back of the throat, helps equalize ear pressure and drain fluids from the middle ear. If the upper airway is narrow, the Eustachian tube may not function properly, leading to fluid buildup and a higher risk of ear infections.
Food Avoidance
When a child has an underdeveloped jaw, the lower jaw may be smaller or set back, which can affect tooth alignment and the function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This can make chewing more challenging, leading to discomfort or pain while eating and increasing the risk of choking or aspiration. Additionally, children with an underdeveloped jaw may have an overbite or open bite, which can further complicate chewing and swallowing. As a result, they may avoid tougher foods such as meats, raw vegetables, or whole grains, opting instead for softer or more processed foods that are easier to eat.