Mouth Breathing Matters More Than You Think: Part 2

Do you ever wonder why your child breathes through their mouth instead of their nose? Maybe you’ve noticed it during the day or while they’re sleeping and you’re not quite sure what it means. Mouth breathing can seem harmless, but it often points to something more beneath the surface.

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed airway health and its impact on your child’s overall development. Now, let’s take a closer look at the common factors that cause mouth breathing. Understanding these root causes is essential for supporting your child’s healthy development!

We’ll also go over easy ways you can start supporting your child’s airway health now and what to do if you notice any of these signs in your little one.

What Can Cause Mouth Breathing?

Mouth breathing is not just a bad habit and can be a sign of underlying issues, such as structural or functional issues. These may involve oral development, muscle coordination, or physical obstructions in the airway. 

Below are some of the most common causes and warning signs of mouth breathing:

Low Tongue Posture

When the tongue doesn’t rest on the roof of the mouth (palate), it may signal weak tongue muscles or a restriction such as a tongue-tie. This low posture can lead to poor oral development, including a narrow or high palate. A high palate can reduce the space in the nasal cavity, making nasal breathing more difficult over time.

Tongue-Tie (Ankyloglossia)

A tongue-tie occurs when the band of tissue under the tongue (lingual frenulum) is too tight or short, restricting tongue movement. This can interfere with:

• Proper tongue posture

• Nasal breathing

• Speech development

• Feeding and swallowing

• Facial and jaw growth

Each of these are closely connected to airway health. When any part of the system is not functioning properly, mouth breathing may occur.

Weak Orofacial Muscles

Low muscle tone or poor sensory awareness in the mouth and face can cause the lips to stay open and the tongue to sit low. This weak muscle coordination makes it harder to maintain a closed mouth posture and encourages mouth breathing.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA occurs when a child’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. This can lead to:

• Snoring

• Gasping for air

• Restless sleep

• Daytime fatigue

• Inflammation in the throat or vocal cords, which can affect speech intelligibility 

Blocked Nasal Passages

If a child has chronic nasal congestion or blockage, nasal breathing becomes difficult or impossible. This may be due to:

• Allergies

• A deviated septum

• Frequent colds or sinus infections

Chronic congestion can also affect speech clarity, especially if it forces a child to speak with an open mouth or altered resonance.

Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids

Tonsils and adenoids play a role in immune defense, but when they’re enlarged, they can physically block the airway, especially during sleep. This can cause:

• Mouth breathing

• Snoring

• Restless sleep

• Difficulty with nasal breathing during the day

Airway health plays a critical role in a child’s development, yet signs like mouth breathing, restless sleep, or speech difficulties are often overlooked or dismissed as temporary. However, when these symptoms persist, they may point to an underlying issue with the airway. Long-term mouth breathing can affect jaw and facial growth, teeth and mouth development, sleep quality, speech clarity, feeding, and even emotional regulation. The good news is that with the right support, airway health can be improved! This leads to better breathing, clearer speech, more restful sleep, and healthier overall development.

Supporting a Healthy Airway

You may now be wondering, what steps can be taken to prevent or minimize mouth breathing? Supporting airway health begins with consistent daily practices that encourage proper breathing and oral development.

• Keep your child’s nasal passages clear to support nasal breathing, which is essential for proper oxygen flow and facial development. We recommend using a saline spray (something like this) and nasal aspirator (this one is great) to keep the nasal passages clear. A humidifier can also help support airway health, too.

• Begin introducing solid foods around 6 months and include a variety of textures to help build strong chewing skills. Learn more about feeding development here.

• Swap out hard-spout sippy cups for open or straw cups. Read our SKIP THE SIPPY! blog to learn why we don’t recommend traditional sippy cups and which cups we suggest instead for healthy oral and speech development.

• Offer teething toys to support oral development and reduce reliance on pacifiers. Check out our two-part blog series on pacifiers: Part 1 and Part 2.

These small steps can have a big impact on your child’s breathing, feeding, and speech!

What To Do Next

If you’ve noticed signs of poor airway health in your child, don’t ignore them! These challenges are more than just a phase to “grow out of”. The earlier they’re addressed, the better the outcomes are overall.

Next Steps:

1. Observe and Take Notes
Start by watching for patterns. Is your child snoring, mouth breathing, or struggling with certain foods? Are there sleep or behavior challenges that might be linked to breathing? Jotting down these observations can be incredibly helpful during evaluations with specialists.

2. Reach Out for Support
As speech-language pathologists trained in airway health and orofacial development, we’re here to help. A speech therapist can assess whether your child’s speech, feeding, or breathing patterns are being affected and work on improving skills impacted by airway dysfunction. We often collaborate with ENTs, airway-centric dentists, and other specialists to create an individualized care plan.

3. Act Early
Early intervention is key. Addressing airway concerns now can help prevent future challenges like orthodontic issues, speech delays, feeding struggles, or behavioral concerns linked to poor sleep and oxygenation. The sooner we start, the more effectively we can support your child’s growth and development.

Trust Your Gut! You know your child best. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to ask questions and seek support. You’re not alone and we’re here to help whenever you need it. If you have any concerns about your child’s airway, oral development, or speech, please feel free to reach out to us!