Orthodontics isn’t just about achieving a great smile but improving your overall health. Your airway plays a crucial role in how well you sleep, breathe, and function daily. Elite Orthodontics focuses on more than just alignment; we assess airway health to help prevent or treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
These conditions can disrupt sleep, impact health, and affect quality of life. Through specialized orthodontic treatments, we can help open the airways and improve breathing for children and adults.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB)?
OSA occurs when throat muscles—such as the tongue and soft palate—relax too much during sleep, blocking the airway. This can cause repeated breathing interruptions, reducing oxygen levels and increasing carbon dioxide in the blood. These episodes often trigger stress responses in the body, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and restless sleep.
Even if you don’t fully wake up, your body constantly struggles for air, making it feel like you’ve been running a marathon all night. This results in:
- Chronic fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Irritability, anxiety, or depression
- Weight gain
- Difficulty concentrating
The effects can be even more pronounced for children, leading to trouble in school, hyperactivity, learning challenges, and behavioral issues. Over time, untreated OSA has been linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weakened immune function.
Signs You or Your Child May Have Airway Issues
If you or your child experience any of these symptoms, it could indicate airway obstruction:
- Loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing while asleep
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Trouble focusing, hyperactivity, or ADHD-like symptoms
- Restless sleep and daytime drowsiness
- Nighttime coughing, choking, or gasping
- Night sweats or bedwetting
- Slow or poor weight gain
- Frequent nightmares or sleep terrors
- Behavioral or learning difficulties
What Causes Airway Blockages?
Several factors can contribute to a restricted airway, including:
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which physically block airflow
- A narrow or underdeveloped jaw, leaving little space for the tongue
- A tongue-tie, limiting tongue movement and natural oral posture
- Excess weight, which increases airway obstruction (more common in adults)
How Airway Orthodontics Can Help
Orthodontic treatments can do more than straighten teeth—they can help expand the airway and improve breathing. Solutions may include:
- Tonsil and adenoid removal – Helps clear obstructions and encourage nasal breathing.
- Jaw expansion and growth-focused orthodontics – Increases space in the mouth and airway, allowing for proper tongue placement and better airflow.
When Should Treatment Begin?
Early intervention is key! Growth-oriented orthodontic treatments work best when started in childhood, ideally between ages 6 and 7, while the jaw is still developing. However, treatment options exist for teens and adults as well.
If you or your child struggle with any of these symptoms, don’t wait! Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and take the first step toward better breathing and restful sleep.
