Does Your Child Have Sleep Apnea?

One of the most heartbreaking things a parent can experience is a moment where their child stops breathing for more than a second or two. If you watch your child sleep and notice that your child stops breathing repeatedly throughout either nighttime sleep or naps, then you may want to speak with your child’s dentist or doctor. Sometimes, your child may have what is commonly called obstructive sleep apnea, which requires an oral appliance to help your child sleep safely and without episodes where they stop sleeping.

Signs of Sleep Apnea in Children

The signs of sleep apnea in children closely mimic the symptoms that an adult would have. They are often tired for no explicable reason during the day. Children often struggle to pay attention and maintain focus on the tasks put before them. They will regularly stop breathing during sleep cycles for 20 seconds or more, and this happens at least a few times each night. When the obstructive sleep apnea is severe, it can happen several times an hour and cause your child’s health to also decline.

When you take your child to the dentist, they can help design a mouth guard that can help your child sleep at night without the struggles to breathe. It doesn’t take long for your child’s dentist to create a mold of your child’s mouth and have a custom mouth guard created to help them. Then, all you need to do is work with your child to help them get used to wearing it during the night while they sleep. This mouth guard needs to be updated with changes in your child’s mouth, but it can help provide them with much more restful sleep at night.

If you want to find out what type of options you have for your child’s sleep apnea, call your child’s dentist today!

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