What To Do When Children Breathe Through Their Mouths?

It is common for children to breathe through the mouth. In almost all cases, it has to do with a partially blocked airway, and it should be treated. So the question is what should parents do if their children breathe through their mouths?

Breathing is how we survive, but breathing through the mouth can have a negative impact and lead to consequences such as sleep apnea, coughing and crooked teeth. These are just some of the problems that can arise.

Today we are going to share information about the problem so that you can learn to identify the causes of this bad habit. We also tell you about some of the treatments recommended by experts in the field.

When children breathe through the mouth

The respiratory system fulfills various functions that keep us alive and healthy. It is, of course, necessary for us to be able to breathe through the mouth. It does not affect the body negatively if you switch between it and breathing through the nose.

However, only breathing in and out through the mouth for children can indicate specific pathologies and also give rise to other ailments.

When the body breathes in and out air through the lungs, it is called ventilation. It is an automatic muscular mechanism controlled by neurons in the brain, which sends orders to the nerves to activate inhalation and exhalation.

All people are born with a reflex that tells us to breathe in and out through the nose.

As a result, there may be something wrong if a child is unable to ventilate air that the body is unknowingly capable of doing. We can conclude that there is an obstruction in one or more of the parts that make up the respiratory system.

Why do children breathe through their mouths?

The reasons why children breathe through their mouths can vary. It can be the result of something transient, such as a stuffy nose from a cold or hay fever. It can also be from obstructive problems such as enlarged tonsils.

These are just some of the reasons why children breathe through their mouths. Below are some of the most common causes:

• Deviations in the nasal cavity or obstructions in that area.
• Problems related to muscle hypotension or low muscle tone in the face.
• Problems with the baby’s bite that cause the baby to keep his mouth open.
• Enlarged adenoids or polyps.
• Enlarged tonsils.
• Temporary causes: colds or allergies.

Consequences

Now that we have gone over possible causes, we will take a closer look at the consequences. The most obvious are the following:

• Episodes of coughing and snoring during the night.
• Sleep apnea.
• Defects in the jaw and a wide palate.
• Atypical swallowing patterns.
• Hearing problems.
• Sinusitis.
• Ear infection.
• Bags under your child’s eyes.
• Fatigue.
• Dry lips.

Medical solutions

As you can see, the problem can be the result of a wide variety of causes. Fortunately, some of these are temporary and transient. When you see your little one breathing through your mouth, you should discuss it with your pediatrician.

A medical specialist will be able to determine the cause and refer you to the right specialist. It can be a pulmonologist, ear, nose and throat doctor or an orthodontist.

Therapy

Another possibility is that your pediatrician recommends that you seek treatment from a speech therapist, who specializes in issues related to speech and hearing.

Treatment can then consist of one of two types of therapy. The first is called respiratory therapy and includes both passive and active exercises. The second type is oral myotherapy.

During respiratory therapy, your child performs exercises that allow him or her to reprogram the brain to get used to the wrong breathing. The therapy is based on physical exercises and conditioning.

The second method, on the other hand, consists of correcting problems with low muscle tone or problems with swallowing in connection with physiological obstacles.

As a final clarification, it is worth pointing out that breathing through the mouth affects a child’s health in a number of ways.

To such an extent that many children who breathe only through the mouth have problems at school. In addition, many cannot participate in physically strenuous activities.