Is my child’s snoring a bad thing??

Yes. Snoring is a form of sleep disorder at any age.  And if your child has a sleep disorder now, then it can turn into sleep apnea as an adult. 

June 22, 2020

Snoring is an alarm sounding off that the body is not getting the proper airflow it wants or needs.  The rattling sound is an indication there is a tissue obstruction.  Sometimes this obstruction can be in their throat or nose, but snoring can also be caused by improper tongue position.  If the tongue rests low in the mouth and falls back into the throat when sleeping, then it can hinder the airway. 

In addition to snoring, there are other signs to look for in your child that could indicate a sleep disorder:

·        Bed wetting beyond potty training years

·        Symptoms of ADHD (including hyperactivity and poor concentration)

·        Acid reflux

·        Tooth grinding

·        Tossing and turning – very active sleeper (do you see messy sheets and blankets every morning?)

·        Dry, cracked lips

·        Numerous illnesses (ex: frequently getting ear infections or strep throat)

·        Bad breath

·        Nightmares

·        Anxiety

·        Dark circles under the eyes

·        Hard to wake in the morning

·        Sleeps with mouth open

My own child had all these signs!  As the old saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know” and it was easy to overlook these sleep disorder signs.  From the time our children are born we are told that proper sleep is critical.  We spend one third of our lives sleeping, and children grow a lot during sleep.  Quality sleep is incredibly valuable. 

Even though I didn’t realize that these were all symptoms of a sleep disorder, as a mother, I knew my child was not breathing or sleeping properly.  And so off we went to all the specialists.  In the end, she had ENT surgery and early orthodontics to improve her ability to breathe.  According to a 3D scan, both were remarkably successful at opening her airway.  But… many of the symptoms still persisted.    

I kept researching and looking for the underlying WHY.  And then I found myofunctional therapy.  It helped me discover the root of the problem – her dysfunction was her breathing habit.  Since birth, she had been compensating to breathe around excessive tissue and a narrow mouth.  Changing her structures with surgery and orthodontics did improve her airway, but it did not change her way of breathing.

Myofunctional exercises taught my daughter where to keep her tongue, how to keep her lips closed at all times, how to correctly swallow, and most importantly, how to properly breathe.  Adding myofunctional therapy to her routine eliminated her snoring and eventually eradicated all her sleep disorder symptoms.

Myofunctional therapy is non-invasive and low impact.  It can be done before, during, or after orthodontics and surgeries.  Ideally, I would want to first treat children without medication or surgery in the most natural way, but that does not mean that medicine and surgery are never needed.  Our bodies take a team approach to keep all the different structures working in harmony.  Your ears, nose, throat, and mouth are all part of your face and should function together.  That is why I work with dentists, pediatricians, ENTs, and surgeons to help improve the entire body as a unit for optimal health.

Myofunctional Method teaches fun and easy exercises that improve breathing and sleeping, and you may also notice an improvement in messy eating, speech, and the formation of your child’s facial structures.  Myofunctional exercises are like physical therapy for the face and mouth.

If your child is snoring or experiencing any of the signs of a sleep disorder, please contact me at Myofunctional Method for a free consultation and let us work together to help improve their sleep while improving the rest of their life!  I have always loved working with kids, both when in the dental office while teaching them to take care of their teeth, and now doing silly and fun exercises.