Your Child’s Sleeping Issues May Be Teeth Related

It’s Sleep Awareness Week, a great time to educate your child and family on the connection between sleep and oral health.  Children that are frequently drowsy or complaining of poor sleep may benefit from a visit with Dr. Botero and our friendly Li’l Sunshine Smiles Dentistry team. Sleep quality can be affected by teeth grinding, dry mouth, tooth pain, and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Conversely, sleep issues can cause some oral health issues as well. Counsel with Dr. Botero during a one-on-one consultation and exam. Call us today at 813-576-0200 to schedule. 

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

2 to 3 out of every 10 children will grind or clench their teeth. The reason for this could be either anatomical (misaligned teeth) or psychological (stress). Children that grind their teeth may suffer from the following symptoms: fatigue, earaches, headaches, erosion of the tooth enamel, chipped teeth, increased temperature sensitivity, facial pain, and jaw problems. Dr. Botero can talk with your child and do an exam to find out if your child is teeth grinding or clenching at night. If necessary, she may prescribe your child a custom mouthguard for your child to sleep in to protect their teeth. Many children will grow out of teeth grinding habits or if teeth are misaligned, orthodontic intervention will help.

Protect your child’s long-term dental health and development by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep. If your child is teeth grinding or clenching, shield their teeth with a custom mouthguard.  Schedule your free consultation or visit today by calling our office at 813-576-0200.

Dry Mouth

Children that sleep with their mouth open at night may suffer from dry mouth symptoms. Sleep Apnea or a blocked nasal passage may cause your child to mouth breathe more than normal. Severe dry mouth can wake you at night because of how dry the throat and mouth get. Some even must get drinks at night to combat the issue which disrupts sleep. Most children will fall back asleep, but with frequent breaks in the sleep cycle, they won’t be getting good sleep. Finding out what is causing your child to have dry mouth is the first step. It might be a blocked nasal pathway or sleep apnea. It might also be medication related (some medications dry out the mouth) or environment related. Humidifiers can help. Talk to Dr. Botero and your dentist if your child suffers from dry mouth.

Dry mouth can adversely affect oral health as well. The mouth relies on saliva to help fight tooth decay.

Tooth Pain

Children that have tooth decay, toothaches, and/or gingivitis could have difficulty sleeping because of the discomfort they are experiencing. The best way to solve this is to schedule regular exams and cleanings with Dr. Botero to eliminate any tooth decay and related pain your child may be experiencing.  Make sure and examine your child’s teeth as you help them brush each morning and evening and ask them how it feels. Remember to help your child floss once a day to rid your child’s mouth from bacteria that hides between the teeth.

Early childhood tooth decay affects 42 percent of children between the ages of 2 to 11 years. This tooth decay triggers oral pain and infections that cause eating problems, difficulty speaking, disruption to regular playing, learning, and sleeping.

Learn what you can do to prevent early childhood tooth decay and the associated pain and issues from happening. Call us today at 813-576-0200 to schedule an exam.

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your child’s breathing is partially/completely blocking many times during sleep. The condition is caused by a narrowing or blockage of the upper airway during sleep. While snoring and sleep apnea often go hand in hand, infants and young children with obstructive sleep apnea don’t always snore. They often have disrupted sleep.

A common cause for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea in children is enlargement of the adenoids and tonsils. Diagnosing this condition early is essential to prevent delays in your child’s growth, behavior, and cognitive development.

Dr. Botero has over 12 years as a children’s dentist and is familiar and comfortable caring for their oral health needs. Her confidence and friendly demeaner put parents and children instantly at ease. If you are seeing signs that your child isn’t getting sufficient sleep, make an appointment with Dr. Botero for an oral exam and consultation. Call us today at 813-576-0200 to schedule.