Your breathing has a significant impact on your overall health. When untreated, issues with the airway can contribute to a number of serious medical problems, including sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea.
Some common problems caused by improper airway and facial development include:
Compromised airways and improper breathing are also a contributing factor in ADHD in children.
Many significant growth and developmental milestones occur during the first 18 months of life. In fact, by age 6, about 60% of a child’s facial development is complete, and 90% of facial development is completed by age 12.
Some of the most common facial development abnormalities and problems seen in children are caused by a compromised airway or the inability to breathe properly through the nose. Proper breathing is a key part of a child’s health, development and educational success. Children who cannot breathe well through their nose tend to breathe more through their mouth, which can affect their health as well as the way their facial structures develop. This ultimately affects their health and appearance as an adult. Because of this, early detection and correction of airway problems is incredibly important for your child.
By detecting airway and facial abnormalities early, our dentist can remove harmful factors influencing your child’s growth, help improve the physical and psychological well-being of your child, prevent the need for more extensive future treatments, and improve your child’s bite and smile.
The health of your airway can also greatly affect your chances of developing sleep apnea. We strongly encourage you to schedule an appointment with your physician or a sleep specialist if you experience any symptoms of sleep apnea so that you can receive the care you need.
Some common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are at an increased risk of developing or worsening a number of physical and psychological conditions. Insufficient sleep as a result of sleep apnea has also been recognized as a global problem and a public health epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lack of sleep has been linked to car accidents and occupational accidents, and it can make it difficult to perform daily tasks and maintain a healthy quality of life. Lack of sleep can also lower productivity.
To schedule a consultation with our dentist and learn more about dentofacial development, sleep apnea and airway health, please call our office today.