Better Oral Health = Better Sleep
Sleep may be the most important part
of a child’s day. For the body to rest and the brain to recharge, a typical
child aged five to twelve should get 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night.
Without restorative sleep, a child may be cranky, clumsy and less attentive
than usual the next day. If the pattern persists, his or her growth and
resistance to immunity can be affected, too.
Oral conditions can affect sleep
more severely than you might imagine. One, obstructive sleep apnea, is caused
by enlarged adenoids or tonsils (which can be surgically removed if necessary);
allergies (treatable with nasal steroids or other medications); and/or obesity
(for which weight management is recommended). Symptoms include gasping during
sleep and snoring marked by occasional pauses. Without treatment, obstructive
sleep apnea can lead to developmental and learning delays, behavior issues,
daytime fatigue or hyperactivity.
Sleep bruxism affects 20% to 30% of
children at one time or another, although most children outgrow it. Bruxism
involves teeth-grinding or jaw-clenching. Often, a child is not aware of
grinding his or her teeth; the child only knows that he or she awakes with jaw
or head pain and possibly a feeling of fatigue. Evidence of bruxism includes
chipped tooth enamel and unusually worn surfaces.
One common cause of bruxism is the
misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, which can be treated appropriately
with orthodontia. Another cause, though, is emotional stress, which needs to be
addressed in order to be alleviated. In any case, a night guard—a custom-molded
plastic device that fits in the mouth—may help prevent permanent damage.
Finally, the pain of untreated tooth
decay can seriously affect a child’s sleep. According to the California Society
of Pediatric Dentistry, “Failure to identify and prevent dental disease has consequential
and costly long-term adverse effects….Untreated dental disease compromises the
child’s ability to eat well, sleep well, and function well at home and at
school.”
If you notice that your child’s
sleeping habits are unusual, let us know so we can examine his or her oral
health. This no time for a parent to snooze on the job!
