Hi, I am Dr Mark Levi, Australian leader in Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine.

We address the root cause of many common symptoms such as teeth grinding, mouth breathing, snoring, challenging behaviour and crowded teeth.

 

Our jaw development and our airway development are connected.

If the jaw and the airway are underdeveloped this can impact the quality of a child’s breathing and sleep.

The quality of our sleep can understandably have a big impact on children during the day.

Our goal is to help children thrive.
 

Persistent mouth breathing in children could signal a serious health issue. Whether it occurs during the day or while sleeping, mouth breathing often points to an upper airway obstruction and may indicate Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB).

 

Habitual mouth breathing can lead to long, narrow faces, gummy smiles, narrow dental arches, misaligned teeth (malocclusions) and a less balanced facial appearance.

 

Mouth breathing also prevents children from inhaling nitric oxide, a beneficial compound produced in the nasal sinuses. Nitric oxide improves lung function, reduces bacterial and viral growth, enhances oxygen exchange, decreases inflammation and supports the healthy functioning of vital organs, including the heart.

 

Additionally, teeth grinding (bruxism) in children may indicate more than just wear on baby teeth. Bruxism can be a compensatory mechanism, where a child grinds their teeth to tighten oral and throat muscles to help maintain an open airway for breathing.

 

Bed-wetting in older children is another common symptom of untreated Sleep Disordered Breathing. When a child struggles to breathe during sleep, their nervous system responds to the body’s oxygen needs, often leading to bed-wetting. Addressing the underlying airway issue can assist in improving these symptoms.

 

Recognising and addressing these signs early can significantly improve a child’s health, development, and quality of life.