You may not be aware, but the growth and development of your child, both physical and mental, can be vastly improved by making minor lifestyle changes and correcting hidden problems that mostly go ignored.
I feel very fortunate to belong to the American Association of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry. The goal of this group is to bring a fuller, more integrated care to the public by building bridges and common understanding between all of the various health care providers. Much of the theme of the last meeting was on the subject of proper breathing and how it influences the growth and development of our children.
Sleep apnea can have a profound effect on both the mental and physical development of children. Children can be much more affected by a lower threshold for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) than adults. An adult with fewer that five apnea episodes per hour is considered normal. Most pediatric sleep centers view apneas or hypopneas occurring more than once per hour as abnormal.
Snoring is not cute, it is dangerous. Current research has suggested that snoring, even without apneas, can be associated with cognitive and psychosocial problems. Snoring in children has been shown to be associated with lower scores on memory and learning tests including some IQ tests. Growth hormone production can also be altered by SDB.
Proper sleep and breathing has also been associated with the development of the immune system. If your child has allergies, frequent colds, cold soars, is sleepy at school, has a weight problem or avoids exercise, it could be due to SDB. Dark circles under the eyes are a big clue.
Many years ago I was one of 25 American orthodontists lucky enough to learn the use of the Frankel appliance from Dr. Frankel himself. He developed an appliance that alters the growth of the oral complex and face, an received the Russian equivalent of the Nobel Prize for it.
This appliance is removable and only placed in the mouth at night. It corrects “bucked teeth” by causing the lower jaw to grow forward. Previous orthodontic methods push the upper teeth back with head gear or extractions, decreasing the airway. It is possible that OSA can be not only corrected in the child, using his appliance, but prevented in the adult.
WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
Does your child snore, gasp or does his or her chest heave while trying to breathe? If your child raises the chest and shoulders to breathe you should be very concerned and contact your doctor. If your doctor is not concerned, find one that is, because this serious problem is found in more recent literature which the practitioner may not be aware of.
In my TMJ and Sleep Apnea practice I have found a very high percentage of patients over 40 who should have had their nasal airway treated as a child. An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) can correct the nasal airway surgically, with very little discomfort. Don’t try nasal sprays unless they are prescribed by a practitioner and have no side effects.
In growing children, nasal congestion can create an alteration of the development of the nose and face. Making sure a child primarily breathes through the nose can not only help sleeping but create an environment in which the face can develop to what it was supposed to be.An ENT can be very effective in achieving this.
Growth occurs mostly during sleep and an open mouth causes the teeth to erupt more and forces a low tongue posture in order to breath. This results in a narrow and crowded upper jaw as well as creating a longer face with a more reduced chin. Now you have an orthodontic or even surgical orthodontic challenge.
When we control the apnea we are correcting an upper protrusion by growing the lower jaw forward. Not only is far more beautiful, but it increases the airway giving many additional health benefits.
Needless to say, being the one who lives with a growing beautiful child, you must take an aggressive part in that child’s development. The pediatrician is there to check if everything is going all right and treats any illness, but you must be there to make sure the little angel is breathing through his or her nose with closed lips and sleeps calmly.
Now that you have done your part for your child, it is very important for you to get your sleep. The same rules apply if you want to enjoy your life to its fullest. A good night’s sleep is not only a pleasure, but extremely essential to your health and to remaining youthful.
Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.
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