‘Why do you care about my
child’s tonsils?'

15th September 2015

When I ask children to say 'ahh', Parents often ask, ‘why do you care so much about my child’s tonsils?’ Sometimes I also get funny looks when I ask how well their child is sleeping, how they are doing at school, and if they get ear infections or runny noses regularly. Good dentists use dental check-ups to screen for a number of things you may not be aware of, such as airway issues. These can cause breathing or sleep disorders in your child and take a big toll on not just quality of life, but general health as well.

If your child snores - don’t ignore!

It’s important to address airway issues right away, as there is evidence breathing problems affect jaw development, which may lead to problems such as tooth crowding. However, these issues can pale in comparison to other potential health effects, which include allergies, headaches, intellectual disabilities, behavioural problems, high blood pressure and heart problems!

How can I tell if my child has an airway problem?

• 1. Does my child snore more than half the time?
• 2. Do they snore loudly?
• 3. Do they struggle to breathe?
• 4. Do they wake up unrefreshed or tired?
• 5. Do they stop breathing at night?

If 3 of the above are true, or if you answered yes to question 5, your child may have an airway problem.

As dentists we are trained to identify these problems not to fix them, so we work closely with carefully chosen paediatric ear, nose and throat specialists who have spent decades training to assess and manage these specific issues.

If you have any concerns or would like a recommendation to a specialist, talk to your dentist at your next visit, we’re interested in caring for more than just pearly whites!

~ Dr Aaron Wong
   Dentists of Hawthorn