Over time, children whose mouth breathing goes untreated may suffer from abnormal facial and dental development, such as long, narrow faces and mouths, gummy smiles, gingivitis, narrow palates and high palatal vaults, and crooked teeth. In addition to swollen tonsils, these are the tell-tale signs of mouth breathing problems. Dr. Jefferson notes that “many of these children are misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity”. The poor sleep habits that result from mouth breathing can and do adversely affect growth and academic performance. In addition, mouth breathing can cause poor oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, which can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea, and other medical issues.
Dr. Jefferson says that, “children who mouth breathe typically do not sleep well, causing them to be tired during the day and possible unable to concentrate on academics. If the child becomes frustrated in school, he or she may exhibit behavioural problems.”

Treatment for mouth breathing is available and can be beneficial especially if the condition is caught early. If the tonsils are enlarged the patient can be referred for consultation with and ENT specialist. If the face and mouth are narrow the dentist can use expansion appliances to help widen the sinuses and open the nasal airway.

Please feel free to call us or ask any question at your next appointment if you are concerned about mouth breathing for yourself or your family.

Sincerely


Dr. Mike

Mouth Breathing Can Create Health Issues

Mouth breathing is very often caused and/or made worse by seasonal allergies that cause nasal and upper airway obstruction. Many of the physical, medical and social problems associated with mouth breathing are not recognized by most health care professional, according to a study published in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of General Dentistry, which is the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Because dentists see their patients more frequently than family physicians, they are often the first medical professional not notice the mouth breathing habit. Dentists understand many of the related problem associated with mouth breathing and are able to advise their patient and make the proper referral.

Dr. Yosh Jefferson, author of the study, feels that mouth breathing “is an unrecognized epidemic that touches every family and industrialized country”.

We can all agree that severely bleeding gums require some form of treatment. There is no disputing and no disagreement because the condition usually involves some amount of pain and the significant bleeding is a motivation. On the other hand mild gum disease (with only mild bleeding) is often difficult to convince patients that treatment is necessary. Additionally, we dentists and hygienists often feel bad having to make the same recommendation over and over again as patients get frustrated.

Think about this. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Is it better to treat mild gum bleeding before it can lead to more serious gum disease? I think so!! It is our job to take your oral health seriously. We only get to see you a few times a year or so. Allow us to make recommendations that we feel are best for you. Remember, you are paying us to keep you healthy!


Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike Recommends

One of the problems that we see in our office is bleeding gums. Bleeding gums come in many varieties. Most people think bleeding gums is normal. Well, in fact it is not normal. Bleeding gums is a serious problem. It can be the beginning of serious gum disease or a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes. Bleeding gums, or as we call it, gingivitis, can be mild to severe. Gingivitis is caused by the accumulation of plaque and tartar around and under the gums. Gingivitis is reversible if treated early. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious gum disease (periodontal disease) where it affects the bone and other supporting tooth-supporting tissues.
Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent bleeding gums, gingivitis and periodontal disease. Brushing twice per day and flossing daily. However, sometimes that is not enough. We routinely assess your gums during hygiene visits. Minor gum bleeding can be treated simply by improved oral hygiene such as flossing and other aids. Sometimes a deep cleaning with local anesthetic is necessary to remove all of the plaque, tartar and bacteria under the gums or laser disinfection may be helpful. I am here to tell you that treating the mildest form of gum disease at the earliest possible time is the best approach.

The article quotes the researchers as saying "The take-home message from our study is that we want our kids to be fit for as long as possible and it will show in their academic performance. But if we're to intervene on those children who are not necessarily fit and get them to physically fit levels, we may also see their academic performance increase."

The article notes that the Canadian Paediatric Society suggests that children who are inactive should begin with 20 minutes of moderate physical activity and 10 minuts of vigorous activity per day for the first month. They should build up their total exercise time to at least 90 minuts per day. In 2001, however, only 33 percent of Canadian schools had formal physical education classes, while most schools offecer half the recommended provincal requirement for physical education.

Physical activity can improve academic performance

This may be one more reason to get kids off the couch with their DS's or watching TV and to send them out to play, to go for a bike ride or head to the park.

An article in the Mar 4, 2010 edition of the Globe and Mail discusses the results of a recent study done at West Virginia University. Researchers evaluated the fitness levels and standardized test scores of 725 Grade 5 students at a particular school and re-examined the results two years later in Grade 7. The study found that academic performance dipped when the students' fitness declined and increased when their fitness improved. The childern with the highest standardized test scores, which included reading, math, science and social studies, were also the ones who were deemed fit at the beginning and end of the study. Children who ranked second highest in academic performance were those who were not fit in Grade 5, but had become fit by Grade 7. Those whose fitness level slipped during the 2 years ranked third academically, and the children with the worst academic performance were those who were not physically fit in either grade, the study found.

Xylitol gum or mints used three to five times per day (for a total intake of 5 grams) is considered ideal. Frequency and duration of exposure is important, therefore it is important for gum to be chewed for approximately 5 minutes and mints to be allowed to dissolve slowly. Using xylitol immediately after meals and snacks to help reduce plaque and inhibit adhesion of bacteria to teeth, and to reduce the contact time of sugar is what dentists recommend. Human consumption of xylitol has been confirmed for safety. Pet owner should note, however, that xylitol is harmful to dogs.

Products containing xylitol have been around for years, but only recently have they become mainstream. Xylitol can be found in chewing gum, toothpastes, mouthwashes and other oral care products, candies, and some pharmaceuticals. On food labels, xylitol is classified broadly as a carbohydrate and more narrowly as a polyol.