How breathing affects teeth surprises most parents. The natural rhythm for the human body is nasal breathing, yet many children breathe through the mouth instead.
Why mouth breathing starts
Some children have no choice. Nasal congestion, allergies or asthma make nose breathing difficult, so the mouth takes over. For others the pattern is simply habitual.
Either way, how breathing affects teeth and facial development is well documented. Tooth alignment and airway growth both shift with the pattern.
The tongue holds the shape of the jaw
The tongue normally rests against the upper palate. From there it counterbalances the inward forces of the lips and cheeks.
During mouth breathing the tongue drops low. Because that counter-force disappears, the upper jaw begins to narrow.
The palate then adopts a V shape rather than a wide U shape. As a result, there is not enough room to align the teeth.
Jaw shape decides airway width
The upper airway includes the nose, nasal cavity, sinuses and throat. How the jaws develop directly influences how wide that airway becomes.
Nasal breathing encourages forward growth of the jaws, which allows normal facial development. Mouth breathing sets the jaws back, and the airway narrows further.
Two developing faces
A nose breather typically shows:
- Forward position of the jaws
- High cheekbones
- Normal airway size and facial width
- A chin nearly as far forward as the tip of the nose
A habitual mouth breather often shows:
- Jaws set back and smaller airways
- Tired-looking eyes and poor cheekbone definition
- A face that appears to sink downward
- Postural changes and decreased muscle strength
- Reduced chest expansion and impaired breathing
- Diminished athletic performance
What can be done
Early recognition matters most, since most facial growth completes young. Once parents understand how breathing affects teeth, treatment becomes obvious. It may involve early orthodontic treatment or myofunctional therapy to restore nasal breathing.
Wider context sits in airway centric dentistry. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also notes the link between airway, sleep and growth in children.
Book an airway and breathing assessment
If your child sleeps with an open mouth or snores, an early assessment is worthwhile. Call +971 50 682 3462 or book an appointment with Dr. Imneet Madan in Dubai.
