As a parent, it is natural to want to make sure your child is sleeping soundly and growing up healthy. But if your child snores loudly, breathes through their mouth at night, or seems unusually tired during the day, you might be wondering if something more is going on. Could it be sleep apnea?
At Westside in Calgary SW, we often speak with concerned parents who are unsure whether their child’s sleep patterns are typical or something that should be addressed. In this blog, we will walk you through what sleep apnea in children looks like, what causes it, and how we can help guide you toward the right care.
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. In children, the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when the muscles or tissues in the back of the throat block the airway, making it hard to breathe normally through the night.
These interruptions in breathing can occur many times per hour, even if you do not always hear or see them. Each pause may be brief, but over time, it can disrupt your child’s ability to get deep, restful sleep. This can affect their mood, focus, and overall development.
Sleep apnea is often mistaken for poor sleep habits or simply “being a restless sleeper,” but if left untreated, it can impact both physical and emotional health.
Many parents are surprised to learn that kids with sleep apnea may not complain of being tired. Instead, the signs may show up in other ways. Here are a few symptoms to watch for:
Because sleep apnea disrupts oxygen flow and sleep quality, it can sometimes lead to behaviours that look like attention deficit disorder or general fatigue.
If you have noticed any of these signs, it is a good idea to bring them up with your dentist or paediatrician. At Westside, we can help screen for oral signs of airway issues during your child’s regular dental visits.
There are several factors that can contribute to sleep apnea in children. One of the most common is enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which can physically block the airway during sleep.
Other causes may include:
Dental and jaw development plays a surprisingly large role in how well a child breathes at night. That is why our team pays close attention to your child’s airway, tongue posture, and bite alignment during their exams.
If sleep apnea is suspected, the first step is to complete a thorough screening. This often starts with a clinical exam and a conversation about your child’s sleep patterns and daily behaviour. We may also assess their palate, jaw size, and nasal breathing during a dental checkup.
To confirm a diagnosis, your child may be referred for a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram. This can take place either in a sleep clinic or with a take-home monitor, depending on the age of your child and the type of testing recommended.
The sleep study records breathing, oxygen levels, movement, and brain activity throughout the night to determine whether sleep apnea is present and how severe it may be.
Treatment for sleep apnea depends on the underlying cause. For some children, removal of the tonsils and adenoids by an ENT specialist may be recommended. In other cases, dental and orthodontic treatment can help open the airway and promote healthier breathing.
At Westside, we take a collaborative approach and may work alongside your family doctor, sleep specialist, or ENT if needed. For children with jaw development concerns, we may suggest early intervention such as a custom oral appliance or growth guidance techniques to support proper airway formation.
You can learn more about our pediatric services and how we help monitor your child’s growth and development through every stage.
Lifestyle changes such as allergy management, nasal breathing exercises, and maintaining a healthy weight can also play an important role in improving sleep quality.
When sleep apnea is identified early, it can often be managed or even resolved before it leads to long-term issues. Quality sleep is essential for a child’s memory, attention span, emotional regulation, and immune function. Left untreated, sleep apnea can affect school performance, behaviour, and overall well-being.
By spotting the signs early and understanding the connection between dental health and breathing, you are helping set your child up for success in more ways than one.
Our team is here to support you with gentle, thorough evaluations and a care plan that puts your child’s comfort and long-term health first.
If you suspect your child may be experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, we invite you to book a consultation with our team at Westside. We will take the time to listen to your concerns, complete a full oral evaluation, and point you toward the next steps with confidence.
Our mission is to help Calgary SW families feel informed, supported, and empowered when it comes to both oral and overall health. We are proud to serve the communities of West Springs area, Aspen, and surrounding neighbourhoods with care you can trust.
A better night’s sleep starts with awareness – and we are here to help every step of the way.
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Treatment for a child is about growth and habits, not a CPAP machine or an adult snoring appliance. After a dental airway exam with Dr. Zubaida Hussain and a physician assessment with Dr. Sabah Jarullah, care may include one or more of the following.
A tight tongue-tie or lip-tie can limit where the tongue rests and how it moves, which affects breathing, swallowing and speech. Dr. Zubaida Hussain releases ties with the Solea® all-tissue laser – usually with minimal bleeding and a quick recovery – and pairs the release with simple exercises so the new range of motion is put to use.
Laser frenectomyGuided exercises that retrain tongue posture, lip seal, nasal breathing and the swallowing pattern – the habits behind many airway problems. Dr. Zubaida Hussain is a certified orofacial myofunctional therapist and two of our dental assistants are certified as well, so sessions are led in-house.
Myofunctional therapy
For children the “oral appliance” is not the adult snoring device. Soft, removable myofunctional appliances such as Myobrace® and Myosa® are worn mostly at night and for a short time each day to encourage nasal breathing, correct tongue posture and guide jaw growth and tooth alignment while your child is still growing. Palatal expansion is added where the upper jaw is narrow.
Myobrace® & Myosa®
Dentists screen; physicians diagnose. Dr. Sabah Jarullah, family physician, reviews your child’s history, examines the tonsils, adenoids and nasal breathing and decides whether a sleep study, an ENT referral or other medical care is needed. Because he is in the same clinic, the dental and medical plans are made together.
Sleep assessmentQuestions about anything in this article? Westside is in West Springs, Calgary SW – dental, sleep, medical, aesthetic and wellness care in one clinic. No referral needed.
Content reviewed by Dr. Zubaida Hussain, dentist, and Dr. Sabah Jarullah, family physician, at Westside, West Springs, Calgary SW — last reviewed September 2026. Educational information only; it does not replace an assessment with your provider.
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