Your Child’s Airway
The Importance of
Your Child’s Airway
Breathing is the single most important action you do all your life.
The air you breathe supplies your body with the oxygen that you need to survive, to thrive, and to function optimally. Millions of people of all ages aren’t breathing well due to airway insufficiencies. Airway insufficiency is the cause of disordered breathing and results in an inadequate oxygen supply to every cell of your body.
When your child’s airway is compromised, oxygen does not flow freely to the brain resulting in interrupted sleep cycles preventing your child from having a full night’s sleep. This consistent sleep deprivation has a negative impact on proper brain function and often leads to severe medical complications.
The earlier we identify and address Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) the better, because all necessary changes to facial bone development are corrected much more easily when the child is 5 to 7 years old rather than in later years.
Furthermore, an abnormal breathing pattern intercepted as early as 3 years old, allows us to stop the process of abnormal development that can lead to additional problems.
Here is a list of the most common signs and symptoms of obstructed airways in children along with risk factors to be aware of:
- Tongue tie
- Speech impairment
- No spaces between primary teeth
- Inclined teeth
- Reports of clenching or grinding
- Bed wetting
- Night terrors
- Restless sleep
- Snoring
- Allergies (nasal congestion)
- Mouth breathing (check pillow)
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD)
- Loss of interest in learning
- Mood swings
Disordered breathing is usually most pronounced during sleep. An alarming 75% of severe Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) cases go undiagnosed.
Our bodies can’t function properly without enough oxygen. When left untreated, disordered breathing can cause or aggravate a long list of potential symptoms and serious health complaints.
Our treatment promotes proper facial balance, growth, and function. We can correct oral-rest posture and ultimately protect the fragile airway health of all our patients.
Diagnosis and effective treatment can mean improved academic and social performance for the child, allowing him/her to reach full developmental potential.
