Breathing, Sleep and Oral Airway Health

In this interview, Dr. Scott Saunders speaks about the importance of our children's oral airway, breathing, and sleep.

Go here to listen to or download the audio version of this recording.

Sleep and Breathing: So important for attention and behaviors.

Dr. Saunders covers information that is newly coming to light about our children's development and particularly about their oral airway, which, if too small, can contribute to the brain not getting enough oxygen.

He covers a lot:

• reasons why the facial structure, bones, and oral airway have progressively gotten worse in the last 300 years
• signs to look for in your child to see if they may have a restricted airway (hint: you can tell a lot by looking at their profile or the way they breathe when they sleep)
• resources – which practitioners to see – to help see if your child has an undiagnosed airway issue
• which therapists to see to help better develop the airway, which affects the entire head and posture
• why you don't want your child (or anyone in your family!) to snore
• when you might want to do a sleep study for your child
• what teeth crowding means
• how a deficient oral airway can contribute to diseases  in late life like Alzheimer's and cardiac disease, among others

Scott also answers so many parents' questions about their particular child. This is covered in the last half hour, so make sure to listen to see if your questions might be answered, too!