Improving Sleep Problems With Orthodontics

Sleep is one of the most important factors that contribute to the performance of the brain and body. If you are not getting enough sleep, chances are your performance at work or school will also be negatively affected. As we talk about sleep, it’s also worth mentioning that the quality matters as much as the length. If your kid is constantly waking up or turning in their bed, take them to a kids dentist in Greenwood for orthodontics treatment.

What Are Sleep Problems?

Sleep problems are issues related to the quality and duration of sleep. Here are some of the most common sleep problems:

Breathing Through the Mouth

Mouth breathing instead of breathing through nostrils is uncomfortable and can contribute to dental health problems. That is because when your child is breathing through their mouth, their teeth are left exposed in the open with no saliva protection. The exposure of teeth to air for long hours increases your child’s chances of getting dental cavities as there will be saliva to wash off the bacteria that accumulates in the mouth.

Furthermore, drying of the soft tissue in the mouth can cause gum inflammation and bleeding. Your child could also be at risk of developing chronic bad breath, which is quite common in patients who breathe through their mouth.

Since oral Breathing is not as efficient as nose breathing in transporting oxygen to the lungs, your kids may find it difficult to sleep well at night, causing them to constantly wake up during sleep. So, take your child to see Dr. Salvatore Livreri for orthodontics treatment soon as they start developing sleep problems.

Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Research shows that people who grind or clench their teeth at night or during sleep are more susceptible to sleep disorders. Bruxism, teeth grinding, or nocturnal grinding is a common dental problem that often occurs in patients with fatigue, sleep apnea, and stress. It can also be caused by diet and life choices such as snoring, alcohol, caffeine, and smoking.

If you notice that your kid keeps clenching or grinding their teeth during sleep, take them to a kids dentist near you for treatments soon as possible. If left untreated, chronic bruxism can cause jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and tooth damage.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

The temporomandibular joint is the joint that enables us to eat and speak and connects the jaw to the skull. Common symptoms of TMD are jaw pain, prolonged ear aches, locking of the jaws, and a clicking noise when talking or eating. Ask your child what keeps them awake at night and if their symptoms match the ones mentioned above, take them to an orthodontist near them for immediate treatment.

The Health Effects of Poor Sleep

Poor sleep should not be taken lightly as it can seriously impact a person’s quality of life and performance at school or work.

Children can start acting out and getting bad grades which may cause teachers and parents to believe they are having conditions responsible for learning difficulties such as autism and ADHD. In addition, research has found sleep apnea to be connected to more severe health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and obesity.

How Surgery Can Improve Sleep

Although most surgeries are done to treat sleep apnea, patients can also benefit from the protection they would have gotten from future dental problems related to severe sleep disorders.

Treatment of sleep disorders often requires the intervention of a special clinical team skilled at handling cases of oral-related sleep disorders. In addition, orthodontic treatment for sleep problems may also require us to work with a surgeon hand in hand for the best results.

We will first conduct a series of tests to find out what is causing your child to lack sleep. For example, if they have been breathing through their mouth, we will check if any obstruction prevents them from breathing normally. Once we find the cause of their suffering, we will treat it through the best means possible and ask that you monitor them closely until they are done healing.

How Orthodontics Can Improve Sleep

Mouth Breathing – many things can force your child to breathe through their mouth. It could be bite related or a problem with their jaws that makes it difficult to close their lips entirely while sleeping. We can treat such issues using orthodontic treatment methods so your child can go back to breathing through their nostrils.

Bruxism – we can provide your child with retainers and mouth guards to wear at night to protect their teeth while sleeping.

TMD – TMD may be caused by bite problems or bruxism. We can give your kid a mouth guard to wear at night if it is bruxism related or do a procedure to fix their bite issues.

Conclusion

Sleep problems can occur due to prevailing dental issues. If treatment is delayed, these minor dental problems, which are not difficult to correct, can lead to severe dental and health issues. So, take your child to Kids First Dental as soon as they start experiencing sleep apnea. Dr. Salvatore Livreri will make a diagnosis and recommend the best course of action to treat your child’s dental issues.