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Sleep Disordered Breathing

Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing has a significant effect on growth and development and can be the root cause of many symptoms we experience everyday. Mouth breathing is typically a result of a number of reasons including allergies, enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils, a deviated septum or chronic low tongue posture (from a tongue-tie or tongue thrust habit).

Mouth breathing can lead to myriad of symptoms including: abnormal craniofacial growth and development (elongated face with retracted jaw), allergic shiners, lip incompetence, an increased need for orthodontia and orthodontic relapse, a tongue thrust swallow pattern, acid reflux and digestive concerns, TMJ issues, clenching and grinding, chronic congestion, chronic headaches, sleep walking and/or talking, night terrors, prolonged bed wetting, excessive daytime fatigue, behavioral issues and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SBD).

Regardless of your age, mouth breathing can lead to serious concerns that should be addressed. The good news is that Myofunctional Therapy can rehabituate you to nasal breathe once again.

Sleep Disordered Breathing and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SBD) is the term used to describe the physiological response as a result of airway resistance or obstruction. During SDB, the brain recognizes a variant in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and kicks in the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). Therefore, the heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, the brain is aroused and sleep is disrupted.

When sleep is continuously disrupted, we are not given the opportunity to complete a proper sleep cycle, thus not getting the restorative sleep we need. This results in adverse effects associated with growth and development, cognitive function and behavioral issues. Significant levels of sleep disturbances result in many chronic symptoms such as chronic daytime sleepiness and fatigue in both children and adults. Unfortunately, as children tend to act out from being over tired, it is often mis-diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The first sign of SDB is mouth breathing or snoring. Many fail to recognize that these can be connected to a more serious condition, that being Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is defined as the partial or complete blockage of the airway during one's sleep. When an individual is mouth breathing, a low tongue posture is present. A low tongue posture means the tongue falls to the back of the throat, blocking the airway. When proper tongue posture is present, the tongue is elevated into the palate, thus opening the airway.

What symptoms can be caused by Sleep Disordered Breathing?

  • Abnormal craniofacial growth and development (elongated face with retracted jaw)

  • Allergic shiners

  • Lip incompetence

  • An increased need for orthodontia and orthodontic relapse

  • A tongue thrust swallow pattern

  • Acid reflux and digestive concerns

  • TMJ issues, clenching or grinding

  • Chronic congestion

  • Chronic headaches

  • Sleep walking or talking

  • Night sweats or terrors

  • Prolonged bed wetting

  • Excessive daytime fatigue

  • Behavioral issues

What are some of the signs of Sleep Apnea in children?

  • Snoring

  • Long pauses in breathing

  • Restless sleep

  • Mouth breathing

  • Clenching or grinding teeth

  • A diagnosis of ADHD

  • Prolonged bedwetting

  • Behavioral issues

  • Sleep walking or talking

  • Night sweats or night terrors

What are some of the signs of Sleep Apnea in adults?

  • Loud snoring

  • Gasping for air during sleep

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

  • Difficulty staying asleep

  • Mouth breathing

  • Clenching or grinding teeth

  • Dry mouth or dry throat

  • Irritability or mood swings

What are some of the risks of untreated Sleep Apnea?

  • High blood pressure

  • Heart disease

  • Stroke

  • Diabetes

  • Alzheimer’s Disease

  • Depression

  • Weight gain

  • Cancer

Myofunctional Therapy is a very effective and important piece of the puzzle when treating mouth breathing or mild to moderate sleep apnea. In addition to concentrating on the oral cavity and tongue, it also concentrates on the face muscles and neck. Simply, it teaches you to breathe through your nose once again and to keep the tongue in proper position at the roof of the mouth. By doing so, you are improving the oxygen levels to your brain and body by opening the airway at the back of the throat. This results in a healthy and rested individual.

Therapy goals can be achieved in a fairly short amount of time with dedicated effort. It is non-invasive, inexpensive and a profound adjunct to other sleep apnea treatments!