San Francisco and Marin CA
Do you ever pay attention to the way your child breathes? Whether they are awake or asleep, if your child is breathing through the mouth, it can be the sign of a greater problem. Mouth breathing can cause a range of issues, including sleep apnea, bite misalignment, and even jaw malformation. Today, we take a deeper exploration into the potential negative effects of mouth breathing on your health and then share how your San Francisco dentist can help.
There is a right way and a wrong way to breathe
The best breathing method is through the nose with the mouth closed. Nasal breathing consists of slower, more shallow breaths, allowing for greater oxygenation because your lungs have more time to absorb oxygen. It also encourages the production of nitric oxide, which has multiple beneficial qualities.
Environmental and behavioral issues get in nature’s way, leading to the prevalence of mouth breathing. A child who breathes through the mouth may do so for a variety of reasons: allergies, a narrow palate, a deviated septum, and even their diet. When you breathe regularly through the mouth, it dries out the mouth and airway. It also makes you more likely to develop a problem with your airway.
There are physical signs of breathing through the mouth. These include the lower lip hanging open, a flat facial profile from the cheek to the neck, and even slower body growth compared to other children of their same age.
For a child, an airway issue can be much more serious than cavities or crooked teeth
An airway problem can be especially dire for a child because growing children need to make sure they are receiving enough oxygen. Airway issues also are at the root of any sleep breathing disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea. Known more to affect overweight and older individuals, sleep apnea actually can impact even young children. During a sleep apnea attack, the airway becomes blocked to the point that airflow diminishes greatly or is totally interrupted, forcing the brain to send signals to the body to resume normal breathing.
How does mouth breathing predispose a child to an airway problem?
Mouth breathing during childhood can impact the development of the face and jaws. Children who mouth breathe are predisposed to developing high palates, narrow dental arches, a receded jaw, and a longer facial structure. All of these features can make it more likely you develop a narrow airway.
Treating mouth breathing in the Bay Area
Your child can receive minimally invasive treatment by completing a course of myofunctional therapy. This involves performing a series of simple exercises that work the tongue in combination with the muscles of the mouth, face and throat. Performed regularly, myofunctional therapy typically starts to yield successful treatment outcomes after about six months, creating a wider airway and achieving the ideal oral resting posture—with lips closed, teeth closed, and tongue resting against the roof of the mouth—which also encourages the recommended nasal breathing.
Glen Park Dental proudly offers myofunctional therapy to our patients in Oakland, San Francisco, Marin and the surrounding communities in California. To learn more, call (415) 585-1500 to schedule a consultation or complete our online appointment request form.
