Ask an Orthodontist with Dr Derek Mahony

How to help you child sleep, and why sleep is so much more important than you may realise - With Professor Narinder Singh.

Ask an Orthodontist with Dr Derek Mahony

Show Notes

In this episode, Dr Derek Mahony chat's with ENT, Professor Narinder Singh. It was a big conversation covering so much ground on kids sleep in relation to their breathing, nose, allergies, tonsils, adenoids, and more.

We have time-stamped all the topics these two doctors cover for you here...

4:15 How many tonsil surgeries are we actually doing in Australia?

5:30 Will your child grow out of large adenoids?

7:00 What’s the best age to correct a deviated septum?

12:00 Snoring in kids is a big red flag

13:45 Are apps useful to monitor your child’s sleep?

14:15 Signs your child is not sleeping properly

16:45 Do dark under eye circles really indicate bad sleep?

17:45 Signs your child has an allergy

21:15 How to control dust mites in your home and beds

24:30 How exactly is bed wetting linked to bad sleep?

26:30 The hormones affected by interrupted sleep

30:20 The link between big tonsil or a blocked nose, and fussy eating habits.

32:00 What about ongoing grommets and ear infection?

38:00 Do you need a referral to see an ENT?

More from Ask an Orthodontist with Dr Derek Mahony

Oct 8, 2026

Ask an Orthodontist - with Dr Derek Mahony Dr Caylor is a dentist and mother, who both went on an airway & expansion journey with her own children, and then later with herself. She also treats and expands paediatric patients with airway concerns in her practice. Dr Caylor shares the before and after results with us, of one of her patients whom she treated with expansion at age 3, and we chat with the patient's mother. You can find Dr Caylor's Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/dr.lauracaylor/ And you can find her practice and other info here https://linktr.ee/dr.lauracaylor?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=ebae3626-1005-4532-b054-447ddfc9d657 You can find Full Face Orthodontics' Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/fullfaceorthodontics/ And you can book a consultation with Dr Derek Mahony here https://www.fullfaceorthodontics.com.au

Aug 5, 2026

You can find Dr Sigal's website here https://littlebirddental.ca You can find her self-assessment checklists here https://littlebirddental.ca/airway-centric-health-care/ You can find her Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/dralisonsigal/ You can find her Facebook here www.facebook.com/LittleBirdMilton And you can find her YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.AlisonSigal/featured

Jul 15, 2026

Here is the MIST study Courtney referenced; ⁠⁠Intranasal Treatments for Children With Sleep-Disordered Breathing: The MIST+ Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA Pediatrics | JAMA Network⁠⁠ The MIST (Medical vs Interventional Steroid for Sleep-Disordered Breathing) and MIST+ studies, conducted by researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and Monash University in Australia, investigated simple saline (salt water) nasal sprays as a first-line treatment for children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. Key Findings Surgery-Sparing Solution: The trials found that nearly one in three (29.5%) children aged 3–12 improved with a saline spray alone, with their snoring and breathing symptoms completely resolving. Saline vs Steroids: The MIST studies discovered that a simple 0.9% saline nasal spray was just as effective as an anti-inflammatory steroid nasal spray in reducing symptoms. Reduced Need for Surgery: After 12 weeks of use, symptoms had resolved in half (50%) of the study cohort, potentially halving the number of children needing tonsil or adenoid removal surgery. Safe for Daily Use: Saline sprays and rinses are a safe, low-cost, and non-pharmacological treatment. Water Safety: If you or your child are preparing your own saline rinses at home (using a Neti pot or squeeze bottle), always use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled tap water to prevent dangerous infections. How They WorkSaline nasal sprays and rinses alleviate nasal congestion by mechanically flushing out allergens, irritants, and excess mucus. They also help to reduce inflammation in the nasal passages and improve the function of the respiratory mucosa. Safety & Recommendations Link to T&A Natural Solutions Toolkit: ⁠⁠Tonsil & Adenoid Toolkit – Natural Relief & Airway Support⁠⁠ Facebook Group for Parents: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1LScNKt1V1/⁠⁠ Courtney's practice ⁠⁠https://www.functionalfaceomt.com⁠⁠ Courtney's Facebook ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/functionalface.omt/⁠⁠ Courtney's Instagram ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/functionalface/⁠⁠

Jun 4, 2026

For visual references, you can also watch this episode on our Youtube channel https://youtu.be/ROBbfwrE-T8

May 6, 2026

Girl Jaw has a great YouTube channel on her expansion journey and conversations with associated dental professionals such as this one. Find her channel here And follow Girl Jaw! on Instagram here And while you're there, catch Dr Mahony on YouTube here And follow Full Face Orthodontics on Instagram here

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