Bed Wetting

“The best thing to staying dry all night would be that 

I could have friends stay over at my house, or I could stay over at theirs!” 

This is what many bedwetting children answered when asked how staying dry all night would change their lives. .[1]

For up to 25% of children [2], bedwetting (called enuresis nocturna in the medical field) can be an embarrassing and disruptive issue and some parents may not clearly understand its impact on their child’s life.

You see, bedwetting can have negative consequences for not only your child’s self-esteem but also their social relationships. Have you noticed your child isolating himself? Did you know that bedwetting can affect academic performance as well? These are but a few examples of the adverse effects bedwetting can have on a child, as well as the entire family.

What kind of quality of life and future can you expect for your children if they grow up with these psychological stressors so frequently?

FEAR & ANXIETY 

• Fear and anxiety of others finding out and then being teased
• Fear of friends staying the night
• Anxiety about going on family vacations or being away from home

LONELINESS & ISOLATION 

• Loneliness because of feeling left out of social activities such as summer camp or slumber parties
• Reluctance toward inviting friends over for fear that the room may smell or urine, therefore choosing to isolate herself instead

REJECTION

• Rejected and humiliated by siblings and peers
• Wrongly disciplined by misinformed parents and caregivers

FRUSTRATION 

• Frustrated that the wetting can’t be controlled
• Sensing the parent’s frustration toward them because of the frequent cleanups, financial burden and being at a loss for how to remedy the situation

Let’s do the math:

Shame + Guilt + Embarrassment = Low-Self Image 

Because bedwetting is involuntary, the first thing a parent should remember is that most of the time it is not the child’s fault. It is considered a normal developmental occurrence before the age of 7, because the bladder is still growing and developing nighttime control [3]. Sadly, because some parents don’t understand this fact, some bedwetting children experience physical and emotional abuse from parents or caregivers punishing the involuntary release at night.

Besides an immature bladder, what else can cause bedwetting in children? Interestingly, studies have shown that among other factors, sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep apnea [4], has been shown to be a cause, and that will be the focus of our blog here.

Can you see how the psychological stressors listed above could cause various behavioral problems in these young minds? Of course, you can! When your child wakes up in the morning not only unrested from that wet disturbance in the night, but feeling withdrawn, shameful and without control over the issue, it can manifest during the day as more aggressive behavior and difficulty paying attention in school.

Did you notice that many of the symptoms we have listed above are strikingly similar to the symptoms associated with a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD? It is no wonder that so many children are misdiagnosed with having ADD/ADHD when they have issues with irritability, aggression, depression, anxiety, lack of focus. But could it simply be that they just lack the ability to breathe well every night and get a restful and restorative night sleep? How much more disrupted is your child’s sleep when they discouragingly wake up in the middle of the night in a wet bed?

Isn’t it thought-provoking how all of these symptoms are associated with SBD and sleep apnea?

I have heard many people say, “I don’t understand how SBD or sleep apnea can cause bedwetting.” The answer lies in the fact that the brain is a very sensitive instrument that closely monitors the oxygen levels while the body is asleep. Bedwetting is caused when the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. The moment it detects the oxygen levels drop, the brain will put its focus primarily on increasing that necessary oxygen while pushing aside other seemingly “less necessary” bodily functions for moment. This in turn causes a release of the bladder involuntarily.

What causes a lack of oxygen to my child’s brain, you ask? Generally, it is referred to as SDB and/or sleep apnea which can be caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids as well as an underdeveloped airway. It is quite a vicious domino effect, because the tonsils and adenoids are often enlarged because your child breathes through the mouth, rather than the nose. And why is that? The airway is small and constricted due to underdeveloped upper and lower jaws.

With what you have learned so far, can you see how the ROOT CAUSE of all this is underdeveloped jaws? That is where Dr. Azouz at Airway, Sleep & TMJ Solution can help.

Now you may be asking yourself, “How can a dentist help with bedwetting and sleep disordered breathing?”

As I mentioned earlier, studies have shown, that SDB and sleep apnea may be caused by underdeveloped upper and lower jaws. Well, were did our underdeveloped jaws come from? Haven’t we always been that way? Surprisingly, Dr. Corruccini [5], an anthropologist, noticed that in our industrial western society, our jaws don’t become fully developed due to lack of breastfeeding long enough as well as the absence of hard, tough foods in our diet. These two very important things help develop our tongue and jaw muscles as well as bone growth. Unfortunately, our diets of soft processed foods from the time we are babies on up, have produced a population with smaller underdeveloped jaws which in turn causes crooked teeth, undeveloped airways, SDB and sleep apnea! Pretty devastating chain of events, don’t you think?

Speaking of devastating… in addition to the psychological and social impacts bedwetting can have on a child and their family, do you realize there is a financial impact as well? Consider that one study estimated that the cost of laundering the linens, buying additional linens and mattresses amounted to an eye-popping $1000 per year! According to National Health Services, treating bedwetting in children and young people is more cost-effective than not treating them.[6] And what price can you put on the emotional, psychological and social tolls it takes on a child and their family, as well?

If you analyze this information for a moment, isn’t it worth taking care of the issue at its root cause in order to help your child flourish in their future? Starting oral appliance treatment to develop the dental arches into the proper form can open up the entire airway, making it easier for your child to breathe and get more oxygen throughout the day and night. This in turn equates to a restful and restorative night sleep that creates a feeling of empowerment for your child because they are rested, an ability to focus and a strength to meet the challenges of the day. By the way, many children quit wetting the bed after only a couple weeks in treatment because their body is getting the oxygen it needs while asleep.

In encourage you to ask yourself, how would this treatment change your child’s ENTIRE life and impact your peace of mind for your child’s future?

Please don’t hesitate to call our office today to have Dr. Azouz evaluate your child’s jaws and airway at our Citrus Heights location.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

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