5 Signs That Your Child May Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea

Children can sleep a lot, and it’s not unheard of taking out a nap or two a day – especially when they played hard. Yet do you know that sleep apnea has more effects on children than you would think? That is real! And children with sleep apnea may have negative effects on their growth and development.

The following symptoms may suggest sleep apnea for your child.

Naps

Though children might be able to sleep a lot, they do away with frequent naps after a certain age. If your child is taking naps when they are at an age where naps are no longer needed (especially when they reach school age), they may not be getting the sleep they need. If this is your child, consider exploring sleep apnea further.

Bedwetting

Wet beds for kids – it happens all the time! And how do bedwetting and sleep apnea correlate? When your child is over five years of age and wets the bed at least twice a week, it may include a risk of sleep apnea. Fortunately, sleep apnea therapy can typically help avoid the bedwetting.

Grinding teeth

When the airway is blocked by soft tissue such as tongue, your body may subconsciously grit your teeth as a way to have some flow of air. Mouthguards can help shield the teeth, but the best thing to do is to deal with the issue, thereby once and for all eradicating the matter.

Breathing through the mouth

We are made, as humans, to breathe through our noses. Relaxing the jaw muscles by breathing through the mouth, in the case of children in particular, can lead to elongated faces and weaken the tongue.

Hyperactive Conduct

Children can be a little crazy – that’s what they do best! But maybe all of their lack of energy is due to not sleeping well. That may seem counterintuitive, but children seem to have even more energy than adults who get tired with too little sleep! This can impair their attentiveness, have poor control over their impulses or become more forgetful. You can note the misery of their grades too. If you’ve observed any of those behaviors in your kid, it might be something to consider getting them checked for sleep apnea.

When your child has any of the above signs, there is a possibility that their night-time sleep routine will not be as restful as you might have expected. Sleep apnea for your child may be alleviated with proper treatment, so book an appointment with us today- the best kid-friendly dentist for children in Plantation FL.