Every day, parents trust pediatricians and pediatric dentists to guide their child’s health. They assume recommendations are solidly based on current science. But there’s a critical issue pediatricians routinely overlook: airway health.
They don’t ask about sleep posture. They don’t check for mouth breathing. They rarely look under the tongue. They wait for a crisis—like behavioral issues, speech delays, or crowded teeth.
You’ve heard the standard advice countless times:
“Kids will outgrow snoring.”
“Mouth breathing is normal—don’t worry.”
“Grinding teeth? They’ll stop eventually.”
“Lip or tongue ties? Don’t worry—that only matters if you’re breastfeeding.”
This advice is outdated and harmful.
For decades, pediatric guidelines dismissed breathing issues as minor annoyances. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics didn’t officially recognize obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as common in kids until relatively recently.
Yet, landmark studies in the early 2000s started raising alarm bells:
- A 2002 study in Pediatrics linked childhood sleep apnea directly to ADHD diagnoses.
- Research by Dr. Christian Guilleminault showed untreated airway issues in children resulted in permanent developmental changes, including jaw growth and cognitive function.
Despite overwhelming evidence, pediatric guidelines remain slow to adapt.
I’ve been a dentist for over 40 years, but it was only in my fifties when one of my daughters commented on my snoring that I discovered the field of dental sleep medicine via the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Recently, one of my daughters underwent tongue-tie and MARPE. As a dentist—and a dad—during these past 15 years, I’ve come to realize how much I’d missed by referring my patients and my own family members for conventional orthodontics.
Now, my grandchild is getting a completely different approach:
- Early tongue tie release
- Adenoid removal
- Myofunctional therapy since infancy
The result?
- Reduced snoring
- No grinding teeth
- Better sleep and behavioral improvements
Today, I want to share some of the “must-haves” from his bedtime routine, along with an airway checklist for parents.
Mark’s 10 Must-Haves for Airway Health in Kids
This is what I recommend to every parent who suspects their child might be struggling with airway issues:
- Magnesium – Supports airway muscle tone, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, reduces teeth grinding (my favorite for kids is this one and my favorite for adults is this one)
- Xylitol Nasal Spray – Keeps nasal passages open to encourage nasal breathing (I like this brand)
- Mouth Tape (Kid-Safe) – Trains closed-lip, nasal breathing overnight (my grandson uses this one)
- Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops – Crucial for jaw and skeletal development (link)
- Cod Liver Oil – Provides a balanced source of A, D, and omega-3s
- Myofunctional Therapy – Trains tongue posture and function early
- MyoMunchee or Chew Tools – Builds oral tone and supports jaw growth
- Consistent Sleep Routine – Regulates the nervous system and supports recovery
- Airway-Informed Providers – Like the ones on my Functional Dentist Directory and the AADSM directory
These are foundational tools; each of which addresses a real biological mechanism that affects how your child breathes, grows, and thrives.
As a newsletter subscriber, you have access to my airway checklist—this is a great place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
The earlier you act, the better your child breathes, sleeps, and thrives.
– Dr. Mark Burhenne
Know someone who would appreciate this information?
Forward it to them & tell them to sign up for future emails here.
P.S. Would you do me a favor and forward this email to another parent who needs this information? I’d appreciate your help in getting the word out about this airway epidemic.