Symptoms of Snoring Problems

How can you tell if your child has a snoring problem? If you’re asleep when they snore, you may not even hear it. You might notice the sound, but not be sure if it’s an issue. Here are some symptoms that may indicate your child has a problem:

  • Difficulty in school
  • ADHD-like symptoms
  • Mood swings, depression, or anger
  • Tiredness during the day, even with enough sleep
  • Morning headaches
  • Strange sleeping positions
  • Signs of difficulty breathing: sweating at night or labored breathing
  • High blood pressure

These could be signs of sleep disturbance in your child. If you notice these symptoms, take time to observe their sleep patterns to see if other issues arise. It could be snoring, or it might be a sign of childhood sleep apnea.

At our Columbus, Ohio dental office, we offer Healthy Start treatment for children experiencing sleep issues like snoring. Without the right care, a child who snores may face ongoing challenges throughout their life.

Causes of Snoring Problems

Snoring occurs when the airflow in your child’s nose and throat is partially restricted. This leads to turbulence–a rough airflow–that causes the vibration of the nose, tongue, throat, and other soft tissues. The vibration is what causes the sound.

So what causes airflow restriction? This is normally caused by the narrowing of the airway. The airway can be narrowed as a result of weight gain, which adds extra fat to the throat and tongue.

Often, though, the problem is developmental. The size and shape of the jaws determine the size and shape of the airway. When the jaw isn’t well developed, the airway is narrow, which can cause it to be restricted. It may even close sometimes. When the airway closes, this cuts off the airflow, leading to intermittent suffocation of your child.

Whether airflow stops at night or not, snoring indicates that your child is not getting enough air at night. This causes poor sleep and leads to many of the observed daytime symptoms.

How Healthy Start Treats Snoring Problems

Healthy Start is an orthodontic approach that helps your child’s jaws and airway to develop. Healthy start uses clear plastic aligners worn at night to encourage the proper growth of your child’s jaws. Combined with a short period of active exercises during the day, the technique modifies the already active growth pattern your child is experiencing. This helps your child develop a healthy bite without metal braces.

As a result, your child’s breathing at night will improve. And in many cases this means your child will not need braces.

Are you concerned about your child’s snoring? Healthy Start may help your child resolve snoring, today, tomorrow, and for a lifetime. To learn whether Healthy Start is right for your child in Columbus, OH, please call (614) 848-5001 today for an appointment at Firouzian Dentistry.