Every now and then we can all get a little bit cranky if we wake up on the wrong side of the bed or don’t get a good night’s sleep. But for those of us that struggle to get restful restorative sleep regularly, there can be lasting consequences. This is especially true for young children who are unable to get the sleep they need.
Sleep is an important time for the body to rejuvenate and heal. When the body is unable to do this, it can lead to a host of negative consequences.
Why we need sleep
Though the exact reason why we sleep isn’t fully understood, there are several theories we have to explain exactly why we sleep. Though the reason why isn’t fully understood, we do know quite a bit about the function of sleep and how it affects our mind and body when we go without it. Sleep is the brain’s time to process information and store long term memories. As the brain processes, the body is able to take time to heal from the wear and tear of the day.
The short term consequences for a lack of sleep are poor concentration and increased irritability. Those who experience long term sleep deprivation are more prone to experience disorientation, hallucinations, and paranoia.
Prolonged lack of sleep has been linked to loss in immune function, poor health, failing mental and emotional wellbeing, bad memory, weight gain, and increased irritability.
In children, a prolonged lack of sleep can be associated not only with poor grades, concentration, and focus, but also has been linked to an increased risk for emotional disorders down the road.
Sleep and emotional health in children
In a 2016 study from the University of Houston, researchers found that inadequate sleep negatively impacts a child’s emotional health “by not only creating more negative emotions, but also by altering positive emotional experiences.”
The study cites that after only two nights of poor sleep, children studied experienced less pleasure from positive things they would normally enjoy. Later, participants were less likely to be able to recall details from these positive experiences.
Candice Alfano, the principal investigator of this study, cited non-restful sleep as a possible reason for poor sleep quality. Childhood is an especially important time to establish good sleep habits, because this is when a child’s internal systems for regulating emotion and sleep are being developed. Researchers believe that increased neuroplasticity of a child’s brain makes childhood the optimal time to establish good habits of emotional and sleep regulation
Breathing habits and sleep
An essential part of sleep is breathing. Disordered breathing habits can lead to poor sleep and overall health. Breathing should be deep, through the nose, with the lips sealed and the tongue resting along the roof of the mouth. Breathing in this way promotes deep lower lung breathing, which is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system and restful sleep.
In contrast, mouth breathing can activate a child’s flight-or-fight response, leading to disordered and unrestful sleep.
Healthy start
In order to develop healthy sleep habits, it’s essential for children to develop healthy breathing habits. That’s where HealthyStart® comes in. HealthyStart® is a system of dental appliances that help guide teeth into position. As teeth are guided into place, these appliances not only allow the teeth to straighten, but also promote healthy jaw and airway development to allow children to breathe through their nose, promoting healthy and profound life time breathing habits.
Ecologic Dentistry is now a proud HealthyStart® provider. If you’re interested in helping your child breathe easier and setting them up for long-term emotional and sleep health, contact our team at Ecologic Dentistry today.