St. Augustine, FL
Bedwetting can be an embarrassing problem for older kids, keeping them from enjoying some of the most fun experiences of childhood. It can also be a frustrating issue for parents, especially when pinpointing the cause for it seems impossible. Perhaps you feel alone, but you aren’t. Bedwetting in children over the age of five years old is common enough to have a name — “enuresis.” Enuresis can have many causes, but according to national health statistics, an estimated 80 percent of children with enuresis also have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); in fact, bedwetting — especially long after your child has been potty-trained — is one of the top signs and symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea.
Follow along with our pediatric sleep apnea dentist in St. Augustine as we explore the reasons your child may be wetting the bed — and what our practice can do to help.
What is pediatric sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-breathing disorder characterized in adults by loud snoring and long pauses in breathing during sleep followed by gasps for air or noises like choking. Children with undiagnosed sleep apnea also have difficulty breathing at night. If your child snores at night, it could be because enlarged tonsils and adenoids are contributing to an airway blockage. Whatever the reason, when the brain has to work harder to get oxygen into the body, it can cause the body to stop working efficiently at controlling other bodily functions like emptying the bladder. The lack of quality sleep and disruptions to the sleep cycle at night can also cause your child to have trouble waking up when s/he needs to use the bathroom. This could be why your child is wetting the bed at night.
What are the symptoms of pediatric sleep apnea?
- Snoring
- Waking Abruptly From Coughing During Sleep
- Excessive Daytime Fatigue
- Inability to Concentrate or Focus
- Seeming Discomfort During Sleep
- Night Terrors
- Behavioral Problems
- Mout Breathing
How is sleep apnea diagnosed in children?
If you suspect that your child may have sleep apnea — if they’re displaying a majority of the above symptoms — discuss it with your pediatrician and our pediatric airway dentist in St. Augustine as soon as possible. A pediatrician may recommend surgery to remove your child’s tonsils and adenoids. If we believe your child has sleep apnea, we will likely refer you to a sleep specialist to make the official diagnosis.
How is pediatric sleep apnea treated?
Our office uses oral appliance therapy — a series of custom-made mouthguards to wear while sleeping — to correct tongue and jaw posture and swallowing habits. The comfortable plastic trays help create a more open airway and prevent mouth-breathing. As your child grows, these appliances help guide facial growth and jawbone development, wider dental arches and straighter teeth.
Pediatric Sleep Apnea Treatment in St. Augustine, Florida
Thankfully, the consequences of untreated childhood sleep apnea can usually be easily and comfortably corrected. Don’t let this disorder keep your child from one more night of peaceful, quality sleep. Call our Palencia Dental office at 904-664-5254, or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment today.
