As bizarre as it may sound, a dentist can actually help treat children who wet the bed beyond the age of 5 years. According to the report by Education.com on “Bedwetting Statistics: How Common Is It?”, about 5 to 7 million children in the US wet the bed at night regularly. The reasons for this are many – physical ailments, mental trauma, nightmares, and so on. Among these is sleep-disordered breathing – a breathing disorder that can cause bed-wetting and can be remedied by a dentist.
How is Sleep Disordered Breathing linked to Bed-wetting?
Sleep-disordered breathing refers to several different sleep-related breathing problems such as sleep apnea and snoring. The disordered breathing results in poor sleep health, ultimately leading to physiological effects. Obstructed breathing, for example, can cause a change in blood pressure in the abdomen – affecting the bladder’s ability to hold urine. The stress associated with this situation leads to the release of hormones and sodium ions that further increase the production of urine and excreta.
What are some of the Dental Solutions to Bed-wetting?
Depending on the cause for sleep-disordered breathing, dental professionals can take a call on the suitable treatment. Removing tonsils and adenoids is one of the common treatment methods and is known to be effective in opening up airways – thus reducing the chances of bed-wetting. Palatial expansion by way of orthodontics can also aid in treating sleep-disordered breathing. An alternative to traditional orthodontic techniques, Myofunctional therapy or Myobrace can reverse airway obstruction and reduce chronic bed-wetting in under 3 months.
Signs of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
If your child is a bed-wetter and you are not sure if he or she suffers from sleep-disordered breathing or not, check for these signs:
- Difficulty breathing at night
- Snoring, even if it’s soft
- Breathing with mouth open
If your child suffers from any of these signs and is a regular bed-wetter over the age of 5, let your dentist san jose know during the next appointment so that he or she can conduct a thorough evaluation, diagnose the condition and recommend a suitable treatment.
Schedule a consultation with Dentist in San Jose, CA, Galan Dental by calling at 408.377.8200.