Did you know that breastfeeding and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are connected? That’s right. Breastfeeding doesn’t just deliver the proper nutrients a baby requires to grow. Breastfeeding also plays a crucial role in supporting the proper development of a child’s oral structures, including the tongue, hard palate, and tooth alignment.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, disrupting rest and lowering oxygen levels in the body.
The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the airway becomes blocked. This can be due to a tongue blocking the airway, fatty tissue, a narrow airway, or failing to hold the airway open. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last 10–30 seconds or longer and may happen dozens or even hundreds of times a night.
People with OSA may experience:
- Snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, and unexplained daytime sleepiness
- High blood pressure, impotence, and headaches in the morning
- Problems with concentration and memory
- Mood problems, such as irritability and depression
Why Addressing OSA Matters
OSA is a serious condition that increases a person’s risk of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and early death.
But if you have OSA or another type of sleep apnea, you’re not alone. Sleep apnea is quite common. According to the Canadian Lung Association, 20% of adults have some mild form of sleep apnea, and 2–3% of children likely have it, too. However, there are many options available to treat sleep apnea, including dental appliances.
How Breastfeeding & OSA Are Connected
Breastfeeding plays a significant role in reducing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by promoting proper oral and airway development. Since OSA is a condition where airflow is blocked during sleep, often due to structural issues in the airway, breastfeeding helps shape the oral cavity in ways that reduce these risks.
During breastfeeding, a baby’s tongue moves in a way that supports the healthy development of their swallowing ability, teeth alignment, and hard palate shape. A mother’s breast is also soft, adapting to a baby’s mouth. Meanwhile, bottles feature much harder artificial nipples, forcing the baby to adapt to the bottle instead of the other way around. This can affect the baby’s tooth alignment.
Historical evidence supports this connection. Before the invention of baby bottles and pacifiers, physical features such as high palates, overjets, and narrow dental arches (which are linked to the development of OSA) were relatively rare. However, families who use bottles can still support healthy oral development through techniques like paced bottle-feeding and regular dental care.
Help with Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits beyond supporting a baby’s oral and airway development. Breast milk contains nutrients, antibodies, and immune factors important to a baby’s growth, and it’s easy for babies to digest. It can also benefit the parent, reducing the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and brittle bones.
As a parent, you want to do what’s best for your child. But breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Don’t hesitate to consult with your doctor or a lactation consultant if you need help. Some quick tips include:
- Express a little bit of milk in the beginning to encourage your baby to start feeding
- Learn to recognize signs of a hungry baby, such as rooting behaviour
- If the breasts are painful and engorged, try expressing some milk between feedings
- It can take 6 weeks to adapt to breastfeeding, so try to be patient
OSA in Children
OSA symptoms in children can vary by age and may be similar to those of adults, but some children also present with hyperactivity and attention problems. Other symptoms include:
- Bed wetting
- Night terrors
- Mouth breathing
- Night sweats
When children have OSA, it is often due to large tonsils or adenoids. Meanwhile, genetic disorders such as trisomy 21 are a risk factor for central sleep apnea. Other risk factors for developing OSA include:
- Airway conditions
- Untreated asthma
- Nasal allergies
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Acid reflux
Sleep Apnea Management in Vernon
Did you know that your dentist can help treat sleep apnea? There are dental appliances we can prescribe to help with symptoms. At Elevate Dental in Vernon, BC, we offer:
- Vivos Method: This is an oral appliance that you wear while you sleep or all day, depending on individual needs. It pulls your tongue forward, opening up your airways. The Vivos Method is easy to use, making it suitable for patients of all ages.
- Solea Sleep: This is a laser treatment that targets collagen in your mouth. Sleep apnea is often caused by a relaxed throat that blocks the airway, so a laser treatment can help prevent over-relaxation and reduce snoring.
We’ll first conduct an at-home sleep assessment to determine whether you’re a candidate for these treatments. We use SleepImage, a device you wear that sends data back to our team. This means you can sleep in the comfort of your own home for the assessment. Then, we’ll create a treatment plan that you’ll follow for 12–24 months.
Caring for Your Family
Our mission at Elevate Dental is to elevate your dental care experience and make you smile. We offer a wide variety of services, from routine cleanings to sleep apnea treatments. We’re also passionate about caring for little ones, and we offer procedures for lip ties and tongue ties. Contact us today to book an appointment.
