Mouth-breathing is an unhealthy practice which may have serious life-long side effects. Unfortunately, breathing through the mouth is a habit that may be tough to break. There are many explanations as to why a person is a “mouth-breather”. For instance, allergies, large tonsils, sleep apnea, narrow airway and obesity are a just a few of the reasons an individual may subconsciously breathe through their mouth.
Particularly, our office is interested in addressing the concerns with mouth-breathing in children. When children practice mouth-breathing, generally, there is an underlying health or dental issue which should be addressed right away by your team of health and dental care professionals.
According to a recent study of mouth breathing published in General Dentistry,
Over time, children whose mouth breathing goes untreated may suffer from abnormal facial and dental development, such as long, narrow faces and mouths, gummy smiles, gingivitis and crooked teeth. The poor sleeping habits that result from mouth breathing can adversely affect growth and academic performance. As [study author] Dr. [Yosh] Jefferson notes in his article, “Many of these children are misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity.” In addition, mouth breathing can cause poor oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, which can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea and other medical issues.
“Children who mouth breathe typically do not sleep well, causing them to be tired during the day and possibly unable to concentrate on academics,” Dr. Jefferson said. “If the child becomes frustrated in school, he or she may exhibit behavioral problems.”
When mouth-breathing is untreated in children, parents may see the some of the following effects:
- Abnormal Facial & Dental Development
- Narrow Faces & Mouths
- Gummy Smiles
- Gingivitis
- Crooked Teeth
- Poor Sleeping Habits
- Growth & Development Delays
- Poor Academic Performance
- Misdiagnosed Illnesses – Such as ADD/ADHD
- Hyperactivity
- Poor Oxygen Concentration in the Blood Stream
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Issues
- Sleep Issues – such as Sleep Apnea
- Fatigue
- Dry Mouth – which can lead to cavities
It is important to have your child seen by a dentist to discuss your child’s mouth-breathing habit. The dentist will assess the child’s oral health and identify issues related to mouth-breathing. There are treatments available and it may be necessary to refer the child to an orthodontist or Ear, Nose & Throat physician.
As noted in the news of a mouth breathing study,
“After surgery and/or orthodontic intervention, many patients show improvement in behavior, energy level, academic performance, peer acceptance and growth,” says Leslie Grant, DDS, spokesperson for the AGD. “Seeking treatment for mouth breathing can significantly improve quality of life.”
In conclusion, if your child has a habit of breathing through his or her mouth, it is important to have a health care professional investigate possible reasons. It is natural for all of us to occasionally breathe through our mouths, such as during a cold/flu illness, but it should not be on a habitual basis.
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