Have you ever had a coach or a trainer tell you to breathe in through your nose instead of your mouth? There are scientific facts that prove nose breathing is better for you. Optimal oxygen exchange occurs when we breathe through our nose versus the mouth. You get more than 30% more oxygen with each […]
All Posts in Category: Sleep Apnea
TOP 10 Common Symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children
Children don’t have “sleep apnea”; they have Sleep Disordered Breathing that will progress into Obstructive Sleep Apnea as an adult unless the craniofacial growth disturbances from childhood breathing problems are corrected. TOP 10 Common Symptoms of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children: Snoring, loud or labored Breathing. Even 1X per week in young children is considered […]
Cracked Teeth: A Warning Sign
Most of us have experienced a sharp “zing” in a tooth while chewing or biting something hard like ice, candy, or a popcorn kernel. That sudden “zing” causes our jaw muscles to instantly stop contracting and activate the jaw opening muscles unconsciously. That reflex is one of the strongest in the body and is part […]
The Dangers of Children with Airway Problems
Snoring, sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea in children is associated with impaired attention, neurocognitive deficits and poor academic performance that is measurable in third grade children[1]. Children should not snore when sleeping, at any age. Snoring even 1-2 nights per week indicates a potential sleep apnea disorder. Other signs are bedwetting (consistent), restless sleep […]
Children’s Behavior and Sleep Problems
In the American Academy of Sleep Medicine this abstract was included in one of the “most Popular” from last year and it was worth reminding parents of children. The article reviewed the relationship of children, nighttime bruxism (grinding/popping teeth) and preschool behavior problems. Preschool children who grind their teeth and are withdrawn have lower school […]
Sleep Apnea and Depression
Sleep is essential for our bodies to rest and repair and it’s the only time our brain gets a chance to rest, regenerate, and clean up the memories and inputs from the day. During sleep, there are distinct stages of sleep that help the brain rest and recover, and other stages allow the muscles and […]
TMJ, Arthritis and Sleep Apnea
Statistics relating to the incidence of TMJ Disorders (TMJD) and Sleep Apnea are often quoted around 70%. In my specialty practice, I see above 50% of people presenting with TMJ problems also have undiagnosed sleep-breathing problems (Sleep Apnea, UARS, Fatigue). One of the many reasons these conditions are linked is the fact that an obstruction of […]
Panorex Radiographs
Many offices utilize panorex images to check for 3rd molars, abscesses, and as a general screening. There are advantages and disadvantages of panorex images compared to an FMX series. Panorex images allow a broad, general dental screening. With some training, they can also detect TMJ pathology, upper cervical spine problems (neck problems) and sinus pathology. […]
Efficacy VS Effectiveness
Studies continue to show increasingly similar results treating Sleep Apnea between Oral Appliances and CPAP, even in severe cases. When oral appliances were first introduced to treat sleep apnea they were thought to be secondary, or sub-optimal alternatives to CPAP. Studies that have looked at long term outcomes, as in the Journal of Dental Sleep […]
Identifying Sleep Disordered Breathing in Kids
Identifying sleep disorders in pediatric patients requires more observation than questions, as with adults. The #1 factor affecting sleep in kids is enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Decreased oxygenation because of the airway restriction upregulates the sympathetic nervous system (fights or flight part of our nervous system) and children react as if they are fidgety, distracted, ADD/ADHD-like behaviors, such […]
