Although many parents assume mouth breathing in children is relatively harmless, this condition often comes hand-in-hand with major consequences. In some cases, habitual mouth breathing is a sign of more serious issues. Learn the facts about mouth breathing in children so you can help identify those situations when your child may need medical attention.
The Facts
Under normal circumstances, children inhale and exhale through their noses, just like adults. At certain times, such as during increased physical activity, your child may breathe through her nose and mouth at the same time, but habitual mouth breathing is not normal, notes Dr. Nicette Sergueef, author of the book "Cranial Osteopathy for Infants, Children and Adoloscents." Depending upon severity, mouth breathing may result in bad breath, gum disease, growth problems and circles under the eyes, as well as changes in your child's jaw shape and head and neck positioning.
Causes
According to Dr. Sergueef, causes of mouth breathing in children vary but may include allergies, nasal obstructions, upper respiratory tract infections and a deviated septum. Allergies often tend to produce allergic rhinitis; characterized by the presence of a congested nose, allergic rhinitis may be present year-round or only during certain times of the year, depending upon the cause of your child's allergies. Sometimes, children develop abnormal growths, such as nasal polyps, which physically block the upper airway and can turn your child into a chronic mouth breather. In cases where a child has a deviated septum, the wall dividing the two nasal cavities is shifted too far to one side, resulting in nasal obstruction that forces your child to mouth-breathe.
Treatment
Treatment for your child's chronic mouth breathing could be as easy as getting help for allergies, which could be in the form of daily medication or allergy shots. According to Dr. Sergueef, most cases of nasal obstruction in children result from enlarged tonsils. In many of these situations, your child's primary care doctor will refer you to an otolaryngologist or ear-nose-throat specialist, who will surgically remove your child's tonsils and adenoids, if necessary. Surgery also may be required if your child's mouth breathing is caused by nasal polyps or a deviated septum.
Considerations
Relieving temporary cases of mouth breathing can minimize your child's discomfort during short-term illnesses, such as upper respiratory tract infections. Focus on relieving the physical conditions that lead to this mouth breathing, which are usually nasal congestion or a runny nose. According to MayoClinic.com, you can minimize these symptoms by keeping the air moist with a humidifier. Also consider thinning your child's thick mucus with saline nose drops and don't forget to give plenty of extra fluids, as well.
Warning
In situations where mouth breathing may be caused by a physical blockage, such as enlarged tonsils or nasal polyps, your child could develop complications, including obstructive sleep apnea. A serious respiratory disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, involves temporary, seconds-long pauses in your child's breathing during sleep. According to Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of "Sleeping Through the Night," other signs of sleep apnea in children may include excessive drowsiness, unusual irritability or fussiness, snoring and coughing during sleep. Arrange for a prompt visit to your child's doctor if you suspect she may have sleep apnea.
References
- "Cranial Osteopathy for Infants, Children and Adoloscents"; Dr. Nicette Sergueef; 2007
- Sarkissiandds.com: Mouth Breathing
- MayoClinic.com: Deviated Septum
- MayoClinic.com: Lifestyle and Home Remedies for the Common Cold in Babies
- "Sleeping Through the Night"; Jodi Mindell, Ph.D.; 2005
