Many children breathe through their mouth some of the time, especially with a cold. A child who breathes through the mouth most of the time, day and night, is different, and it is worth understanding why.
Why it matters
The tongue is meant to rest against the roof of the mouth, and in a nose-breathing child it does, which helps shape a wide upper jaw as the face grows. In a mouth breather the mouth hangs open, the tongue sits low, and the upper jaw grows narrower and higher-arched. Over years this pattern is associated with crowding, crossbites, open bites, a longer face and a set-back lower jaw. It is also associated with poorer sleep quality, because a narrow upper jaw means a narrower nasal floor and often a smaller airway behind the tongue.
Common causes
- Enlarged adenoids or tonsils blocking the nose or throat
- Allergic rhinitis with a chronically stuffy nose
- A narrow upper jaw and nasal floor
- Habit that persists after the original cause has resolved
- Less often, a deviated septum or structural nasal obstruction
What to look for
Lips apart at rest, dry chapped lips, snoring, restless sleep, dark circles under the eyes, drooling on the pillow, morning tiredness, difficulty concentrating, a long narrow face or a gummy smile. Bedwetting past age 6 or 7 can also be linked to disturbed sleep.
Who does what
Your family physician checks the nose, tonsils and adenoids and manages allergies; an ENT specialist may be involved if adenoids or tonsils are enlarged. The orthodontist assesses the width of the upper jaw and the growth pattern. In a child with a narrow palate, palatal expansion during growth widens the nasal floor; studies consistently show improved nasal airflow afterward. Where a low tongue posture or lip habit persists, an orofacial myofunctional therapist can retrain it. Often the plan involves more than one of these, and the sequence is decided case by case.
What to do
Mention it at your child's next dental or medical visit, and at any orthodontic assessment. At myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge breathing is screened at every evaluation. A short phone video of your child asleep helps more than a description.
Ready to find out what your options are?
Complimentary evaluations for children, teens and adults at myORTHODONTIST Maple Ridge on Dewdney Trunk Road. No referral needed.