{"id":771,"date":"2025-10-13T09:16:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=771"},"modified":"2026-04-19T22:51:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T02:51:19","slug":"mouth-breathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/mouth-breathing\/","title":{"rendered":"Breathe Easy: Learn Orthodontic Causes & Treatments for Mouth Breathing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breathing through your nose comes naturally \u2013 but to some, it\u2019s nearly impossible! When your nasal airways are obstructed, your body\u2019s response is to find oxygen through mouth breathing. Your mouth can pull in a large volume of oxygen at a time, which is why we mouth breathe during strenuous physical activity. However, chronic mouth breathing can lead to serious health and development issues, particularly for children!<\/a><\/p>\n

Read on to learn what mouth breathing can do to your oral health during early development through adulthood, and what the underlying causes may be.<\/p>\n

Complications Due to Mouth Breathing During Early Childhood Development<\/h2>\n

Mouth breathing is often seen as social issue \u2013 it\u2019s more audible and noticeable and even sometimes used as an insult. But habitual mouth breathing can lead to genuine complications or long-term health issues!<\/p>\n

Some of the most notable dental complications due to chronic mouth breathing are:<\/p>\n

Speech Impediments<\/h3>\n

Persistent mouth breathing can lead to a condition known as tongue thrust. This describes a functional change in how the tongue works. The most obvious effect of tongue thrust is altered speech.<\/p>\n

The longer speech impediments due to tongue thrust exist, the harder they are to correct. Eventually, speech therapy becomes the only option to correct slurring and altered speech.<\/p>\n

Skeletal Growth Complications<\/h3>\n

You may be surprised to learn that mouth breathing can alter how your child\u2019s facial development progresses! During a child\u2019s most extreme growth periods, breathing through their mouth can lead to developmental issues with the bone along their jaw and cheeks.<\/p>\n

Bone development issues are harder to correct than they are to prevent. Some of the most common ways mouth breathing alters development<\/a> is by creating longer, more narrow jawlines that rest lower than an ideal position.<\/p>\n

More importantly, this affected jaw development almost guarantees issues with their teeth. A narrow or low-set jaw can lead to crooked teeth or overcrowding<\/a>, both of which would require orthodontic treatment to correct.<\/p>\n

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)<\/h3>\n

Chronic dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a major concern for your health. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience, dry mouth is a catalyst for bacterial growth and tooth decay. Your mouth relies on saliva to fight acidity and passively clean away loose bacteria or food from your mouth. When you have chronic dry mouth, you lose one of the most effective defenses against on-going decay.<\/p>\n

Mouth breathing is associated with xerostomia. It\u2019s no surprise for anyone who has suffered illness or allergies that resulted in clogged nostrils \u2013 breathing through your mouth is a quick way to dry it out.<\/p>\n

If you or your child typically breathe through your mouth, you are leaving yourself more susceptible to decay, gum disease and the side-effects that they bring.<\/p>\n

Causes of Mouth Breathing<\/h2>\n

Orthodontic Causes<\/h3>\n

Several developmental issues can impact the airways that would normally allow you to comfortably breathe through your nose. The shape and size of your jaw or nose can play major roles in this. In some cases, these issues are secondary effects of early childhood behavior like unchecked thumb sucking.<\/a><\/p>\n

When the cause of mouth breathing is due to physical development of your jaw area, early intervention is necessary. The sooner these problems are treated, the easier they are to fix. It\u2019s far easier for an orthodontist to gently redirect oral development than try to correct it after your child has passed the fastest periods of growth.<\/p>\n

Other Causes<\/h3>\n

Of course, mouth breathing is not always due to bone or jaw issues. There are plenty of more common reasons that people breathe through the mouth. Allergies and congestion from illness are one of the most likely causes.<\/p>\n

However, problems like a deviated septum, enlarged tonsils or adenoids can also contribute to mouth breathing. Ultimately, your body will default to whichever airway can generate enough oxygen for your body. For most, this is the nose \u2013 and it\u2019s a breathing technique formed from habit.<\/p>\n

Orthodontic Solutions for Mouth Breathing<\/h2>\n

Mouth breathing can be corrected by an orthodontist if the causes are related to:<\/p>\n