Airway Orthodontics to Breathe and Sleep Better
At Greater Houston Orthodontics, we believe orthodontics goes far beyond creating a straight smile — it’s about enhancing your overall health and well-being. That’s why our doctors take a comprehensive approach to care, focusing not only on teeth alignment but also on airway health, which plays a critical role in how well you breathe, sleep, and function every day.
What Is Airway Orthodontics?
Airway orthodontics refers to orthodontic treatment methods aimed at expanding and improving the airway to address breathing-related sleep disorders. By correcting jaw structure and oral habits, we can help alleviate conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) — both of which are linked to serious health risks if left untreated.
Our approach emphasizes early intervention, especially for children, to support healthy facial and airway development and promote lifelong wellness.
Understanding Sleep Disordered Breathing and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, often due to relaxed muscles in the throat and tongue. These blockages can cause a person to stop breathing multiple times per hour, triggering stress responses in the body and preventing deep, restful sleep.
Symptoms of OSA and SDB can include:
Loud snoring or choking during sleep
Mouth breathing or restless sleep
Daytime fatigue, irritability, or poor focus
Behavioral problems or learning difficulties (especially in children)
Nighttime sweating, bedwetting, or sleep terrors
Pauses in breathing, gasping, or snorting
Poor weight gain in children
Over time, untreated OSA has been linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety, and depression. In children, it can significantly impact school performance and emotional development.
Common Causes of Airway Obstruction
Several anatomical and environmental factors may contribute to airway issues:
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Narrow jaws or underdeveloped upper/lower jaws
Tongue-tie (restricted tongue movement)
Obesity (especially in adults)
These conditions can reduce the space available for the tongue and airflow, increasing the risk of airway collapse during sleep.
How Airway Orthodontics Can Help
Treatment focuses on removing obstructions and optimizing jaw and airway development. Depending on the patient’s age and condition, options may include:
Tonsil and adenoid removal (to facilitate nasal breathing)
Growth-focused orthodontics to expand the jaw and create space for proper tongue posture and airflow
Orthodontic appliances to guide healthy skeletal development
By increasing airway volume and tongue space, we help patients breathe more easily, day and night.
When Should Treatment Begin?
Early diagnosis is key. Growth modification techniques are most effective when started between the ages of 6 and 7, while a child’s jaw is still developing. However, airway orthodontics can also benefit adults experiencing sleep or breathing issues.
If you or your child experiences any signs of OSA or SDB, it’s important to schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
Schedule a Complimentary Airway Assessment
Concerned about sleep-disordered breathing or airway development? Contact our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation. We’re here to help you or your child sleep better, breathe easier, and live a healthier life.
