Parents often ignore their child’s small habits. One such frequent habit is mouth breathing. Children’s mouth breathing or sleeping with their mouth open is often seen as nothing out of the ordinary, especially if they have a cold or a nasal blockage. However, frequent mouth breathing is a habit that is an underlying airway issue that cannot be ignored.
Breathing patterns have a big impact on child development. Airway dentistry is a relatively new field that focuses on the issues of poorly formed jaws or mouth structures. Specialized airway dentistry clinics in Gurgaon are helping parents deal with the impact of mouth breathing on child development.
Explaining Why Some Children Breathe Through Their Mouths
Breathing through one’s mouth is unhealthy and unnatural; the body is designed to breathe through the nose. Nose breathing provides a number of benefits: the nose provides a natural filtration system that collects dust and allergens, the air is warmed before it reaches the lungs, and breathing through the nose assists in meeting the body’s proper oxygen intake. When a child is breathing through their mouth, all of these benefits are lost.
It is normal to breathe through one’s mouth occasionally due to having a cold or allergies. However, if one’s mouth is being breathed through chronically, a possible explanation is that the child’s airway is obstructed or restricted due to a medical concern. This is caused by the child’s tonsils, adenoids, jaw, tongue positioning, or the overall size of their palate.
Children who breathe through their mouths on a habitual basis tend to have unhealthy facial and jaw development. Mouth breathing can also contribute to sleep Apnoea and overall health problems, and can contribute to problems with a child’s development.
How to recognize that a child is a mouth breather
Breathing through one’s mouth is a habit that parents first tend to notice in their children. Some of the signs can be visible while a child is sleeping, but other signs can be seen while the child is awake.
An airway restriction might be experienced by a child who snores or sleeps with their mouth open. Teeth grinding and restlessness while sleeping, as well as waking up fatigued, are all signs of concern that should be addressed, even if the child gets the required amount of sleep.
Chronic mouth breathing during the day can lead to dry and chapped lips as well as difficulty with focus and excessive tiredness. Many teachers and parents have observed that children suffering from sleep issues have difficulty paying attention in class and are more prone to distractions.
There are also long-term consequences of mouth breathing that give a child a distinct facial appearance. Because of mouth breathing, a child can develop a more elongated face, a narrower upper jaw, and teeth that are more crowded.
How Mouth Breathing Affects a Child’s Development
Mouth breathing has negative effects on a child that aren’t very obvious, but can have serious consequences on a child’s cognitive and physical development.
Children who breathe through their mouths tend to have their tongues resting lower in the mouth, as opposed to up against the roof of the mouth, and this can have serious repercussions on development. It can affect the development of the upper jaw and teeth, resulting in crowded teeth, bite issues, and a narrowed palate.
Another main issue is how well someone is sleeping. Sleep quality is really important. For adults, sleeping poorly can result in situations where they hit every stage, except for the deep, restorative stages. Regarding kids, poor sleep can lead to them feeling sluggish, emotional changes, negatively impact their ability to learn, etc.
I’ve seen some parents even report what looks to be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and all their kids require is better sleeping habits due to poor sleep caused by airway issues.
What is Airway Dentistry?
Airway Dentistry examines the interactions between the mouth and jaw and how they affect the ability to breathe. Airway-experienced dentists evaluate the anatomy and structure of the palate, tongue, jaw, and overall airway.
In one Airway Dentistry clinic in Gurgaon, the process begins with a meticulous consult. The airway dentist in Gurgaon will discuss the child’s sleep, breathing, and daytime behaviour. To evaluate the airway structure, the dentist may conduct a clinical exam and may use digital imaging.
This method determines whether the anatomical causes of the issues are associated with mouth breathing.
Options for Managing Mouth Breathing
Since treatment is based on what is causing the airway restriction, most children can benefit from orthodontic treatment to help orient proper jaw formation for the airway to open.
Some examples include the use of palatal expansion appliances to gradually widen the upper jaw. This provides more space for the tongue and encourages better nasal breathing.
In addition, some children may benefit from myofunctional therapy, which involves the use of specific exercises to strengthen the face and tongue to achieve better coordination. This therapy helps children learn to keep their tongue on the roof of their mouth and to breathe in a more optimal manner.
If the problem is more complex, some airway dentists will work with ENTs when there are enlarged tonsils and adenoids or nasal obstructions contributing to the problem.
When Should Parents Start to Consider an Airway Dentistry Clinic
If the mouth breathing is just an occasional open mouth breathing, then it is not necessary to seek out airway dentistry right away. If there is consistent open-mouth breathing or if there is some kind of chronic condition present, then airway dentistry may be the appropriate intervention.
An open-mouth-breathing child is often a snorer and may sleep with his mouth open. They often wake themselves up, and can be very sleepy, irritable and inattentive during the day. This is when a professional opinion may be warranted. Treatment outcomes are often better when problems are diagnosed and treated early.
The jaw and face are developing in childhood. That is why it’s important to fix airway problems early in life. It is to make sure that problems such as complicated dental or breathing issues do not happen in the future.
Conclusion
Mouth breathing in children is usually overlooked. It seems like just a habit. But if not fixed, it can cause airway issues that can create problems with a child’s sleep, growth, and overall well-being.
Airway dentists evaluate the jaw, mouth, and airway functions to advocate treatments that support the growth and development of children.
In an airway dental clinic in Gurgaon, parents can find the first signs of concern with their child’s breathing to fix them. It can improve their child’s overall health, sleep, and breathing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is mouth breathing harmful to children?
Children usually breathe through the mouth when they are ill. However, chronic mouth breathing can affect sleep, overall health, and cause problems with jaw development. A professional assessment may be warranted.
2. At what age should children be assessed for airway issues?
Children may be assessed for airway issues as early as five or six years old. Symptoms such as snoring, mouth breathing, and sleeplessness warrant evaluation. Early evaluation helps clinicians direct dentists to provide jaw guidance.
3. Is mouth breathing able to be treated?
Yes. Many cases of mouth breathing can be improved through jaw expansion, airway obstruction therapies, and breathing exercises. Early interventions usually improve the outcome of the case.
