How Can I Help My Child Stop Snoring in Melbourne?

For many parents, the sound of their child snoring is a pleasant one because it means they have finally fallen asleep. After a while, however, it can start to cause some concern, especially if it seems that they are really struggling to breathe and are tired during the day. Plus, if they share a room with siblings, this can easily affect their sleep as well. Today, Dr. Kenneth Mogell is going to discuss 3 reasons your child might be snoring, and what you can do to help them stop snoring in Melbourne.

1. An Underdeveloped Jaw

The development of your child’s upper and lower jaw plays a key role in their oral and overall health. They need to be large enough to accommodate your child’s incoming teeth as well as give them a large enough oral cavity to breathe comfortably. Often, one jaw will develop more slowly than the other, and this can lead to a restricted airway that causes them to snore. Often, a child with an underdeveloped jaw will have crooked/crowded teeth or difficulty breathing while they are awake, so you may need to seek out orthodontic treatment to correct the issue.

2. Large Tonsils or Adenoids

The tonsils and adenoids are tissues in the mouth and throat, and if they are too large, they can easily lead to snoring. This is because they are obstructing your child’s airway, and the vibration caused by the passing air is what creates the “iconic” snoring sound. Look at your child’s throat and see if it appears that something is blocking it. Be sure to do this while they are laying down. If this appears to be the case, you may need to consult an ear, nose, and throat doctor.

3. Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night. This can be caused by the tissues of the mouth and throat relaxing into the airway (which ties into point #2), or the brain not sending the proper signals to the body to breathe. In either case, loud, persistent snoring is one of the most common symptoms. The other most common one is frequent exhaustion during the day, and in children, this can manifest as hyperactivity and lead to problems at school.

Over the long term, sleep apnea can raise a child’s risk of developing serious health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It is even one of the causes and effects of childhood obesity. A child who is overweight will often have a very thick neck that makes it difficult for them to breathe at night, and a child with sleep apnea will usually not have the energy to stay active throughout the day. It has also been shown to affect a person’s appetite. If your child snores, is overweight, and is frequently exhausted during the day, you should schedule them to see a sleep doctor so they can get a diagnosis and start treatment.

How Can I Find A Sleep Doctor?

You can find many fine sleep physicians online that offer snoring treatment in Melbourne, but it can be tough to sift through all of the search results you’ll inevitably get. Fortunately, I treat many patients for sleep apnea at my practice and can direct you to a local, trusted sleep doctor that I’ve worked with before. In fact, if your child consistently snores, you should probably see a sleep doctor any way. While they may not be suffering from sleep apnea, it does mean they are not getting the most restful sleep they can.

If you’d like a recommendation, simply call my office, and I’ll be happy to guide you to a sleep doctor in your area.