Addressing Child Sleep Problems with Orthodontic Solutions

Orthodontics and sleep go hand in hand. Your child’s facial and oral development may lead to sleep problems, while sleep problems may cause changes to your child’s bite and jaw development. Treatment can correct jaw alignment and other issues for healthier sleep.  

Types of Children’s Sleep Issues

Children experience many types of sleep disturbances, and some are normal or happen only occasionally. Others may be a sign of an orthodontic or bone problem.

Snoring

Your child may snore because of a blockage in the nose, problems with adenoids or tonsils, or a condition like sleep apnea. However, snoring may also happen because of dental structural problems, a narrow palate, or a small jaw. Over time, snoring and mouth breathing lead to facial and jaw changes.  

Mouth Breathing

As it sounds, mouth breathing is when your child breathes through their mouth instead of their nose. This may happen throughout the day or during sleep for many different reasons, like a viral infection.  

However, chronic mouth breathing can change your child’s facial structure and lead to dental problems like an open bite, misaligned teeth, or facial differences. It also changes the balance of bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to cavities.  

Teeth Grinding

The medical term for teeth grinding is bruxism and includes jaw clenching that may happen during sleep. Your child may do this because of stress, some conditions like cerebral palsy, or misaligned teeth. Over time, grinding and clenching wears down the enamel, chips teeth, and causes headaches and jaw pain.  

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the soft tissue in your child’s mouth relaxes so that it blocks or reduces the airway and disrupts breathing during sleep. Children who have medical conditions that affect their facial structure and shape or airway, nose, and facial muscles are most at risk of having OSA.

UARS is similar to obstructive sleep apnea but has less severe symptoms. The tissue relaxation may happen because of structural tissue or bone problems and facial differences and disrupts sleep.

Types of Orthodontic Solutions

Orthodontic treatments correct bone, bite, and structural issues that may contribute to children's sleep issues. These include orthodontic expanders, mouth guards, braces, and upper airway devices.  

Orthodontic Expanders

An orthodontic expander or palatal expander is an appliance that widens the roof of your child’s mouth and treats jaw and dental problems like crowding or crossbites. These devices help correct irregular jaw development, bite problems, and abnormal tooth wear that may cause snoring, mouth breathing, or grinding.  

There are different types of expanders, but each includes a metal or acrylic device that presses against the palate and attaches to the molars. Your orthodontist adjusts the device to put pressure on the growth plate in the palate. As the palate expands, new bone grows in place, helping to correct and widen structures.  

Mouth Guard or Retainer

A mouth guard or retainer is a removable appliance your child wears at nighttime to protect their teeth from grinding. If the grinding happens because of a bite problem, your orthodontist will correct the problem with braces or other treatments. However, a mouth guard is custom-molded for your child’s teeth and can improve symptoms quickly.  

Braces

Traditional braces use brackets and wires to apply pressure and slowly adjust bone structure and teeth position over time. Braces can help correct bite irregularities and jaw misalignment that contribute to sleep problems, like snoring, mouth breathing, grinding, or other sleep issues.  

Oral Appliance

An oral appliance, sometimes called a dental appliance or an upper airway device, is a retainer your child or teen may wear to help keep their airway open during sleep. The appliance fits over their teeth and has attachments on each side, connecting the upper and lower pieces. The device keeps the lower jaw in place so the tongue and palate can’t collapse.  

Explore Orthodontic Care

Finding the underlying cause of your child's sleep issues is paramount. Our team at Fleming Orthodontics goes the extra mile, discovering the cause of sleep disruption and creating a personalized treatment for your child. Contact us to learn more about orthodontic solutions.

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