What age should my child first visit a dentist?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends your child’s first dental visit within six months of the first tooth appearing, or by one year of age.

Do you provide care for anxious or special-needs children?

Yes, our team is trained to provide gentle, compassionate care including sedation options and desensitization visits to make dental appointments comfortable for anxious or special-needs children.

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We create a fun, welcoming environment tailored for kids, with engaging amenities and specialized treatments, ensuring positive experiences in every visit.

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Home . Services . Mouth breathing

Mouth Breathing

Q: Which services do you offer at Aurora Kids Dentistry?

We offer well-baby check-ups, preventive & hygiene care, restorative dentistry, sedation & sleep dentistry, interceptive orthodontics, frenectomies, special-needs dentistry, and emergency dental services.

What Is Mouth Breathing?

Mouth breathing is when a person breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, especially during sleep or while at rest. While it's normal to breathe through the mouth sometimes (like during a cold or after running), constant or habitual mouth breathing in children can be a sign of an underlying issue.

Normally, we are meant to breathe through our noses. The nose warms, filters, and humidifies the air, helping our lungs and body work more efficiently. When a child breathes through their mouth regularly, it can lead to:

🔹 Dry mouth and increased risk of cavities

🔹 Changes in facial growth and jaw development

🔹 Poor sleep quality and daytime tiredness

🔹 Speech or orthodontic issues over time

If you notice your child often has their mouth open, snores, has bad breath, or wakes up tired, they may be a mouth breather. It's worth bringing it up with your pediatric dentist or doctor so they can look into the cause and help guide the best treatment.

Why Does My Child Mouth Breathe?

Mouth breathing in children can happen for a variety of reasons, and it's important to identify the cause early. Some common reasons include:

Nasal Blockage: Allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or chronic stuffy noses can make it hard to breathe through the nose.

Habitual Breathing Pattern: Sometimes a child starts mouth breathing due to a temporary blockage, but then the habit continues even after the cause is gone.

Jaw or Facial Structure: Some children have smaller jaws or a high, narrow palate that can restrict the airway, making nasal breathing more difficult.

Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Conditions like snoring or sleep apnea often go hand-in-hand with mouth breathing.

Mouth breathing can affect your child's sleep, growth, dental development, and even facial structure over time. If you notice frequent mouth breathing, especially during sleep, it's a good idea to bring it up with your pediatric dentist, pediatrician, or an ENT specialist. Early intervention can make a big difference!

How to Solve Mouth Breathing in Children?

Treating mouth breathing starts with finding and addressing the cause. Here are the most common steps:

1. Identify the Root Cause

The first step is a proper evaluation. Mouth breathing can be caused by:

A pediatrician, ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist), or pediatric dentist can help assess what's going on.

Allergies or nasal congestion

Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

A deviated septum

Habit or muscle weakness

Jaw or airway development issues

2. Treat Underlying Medical Issues:

Depending on the cause, treatment may include:

Allergy management (medications or testing)

Removing enlarged tonsils/adenoids

Addressing chronic nasal congestion

Using nasal sprays or rinses

3. Dental and Orthodontic Help:

A pediatric dentist or orthodontist may recommend:

Palatal expanders to widen the upper jaw and improve nasal airflow

Early interceptive orthodontics to support proper jaw and airway development

Myofunctional therapy to retrain oral and facial muscles for proper breathing

4. Myofunctional Therapy & Habit Correction:

This includes simple daily exercises that help:

Strengthen tongue and lip muscles

Encourage proper tongue posture

Train your child to keep lips closed and breathe through their nose

5. Monitor Sleep & Behavior:

Mouth breathing is often worse during sleep and can lead to poor rest. A sleep study may be recommended if your child snores, is restless at night, or wakes tired.

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What Else We Are offering?

Dental Care for children

Restorative Dentistry

Pediatric restorative dentistry refers to the practice of restoring the function and integrity of a tooth that has been impacted

Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene / Preventive dentistry is dental care that helps maintain good oral health. It’s a combination of regular dental check-ups

Special Needs Dentistry

Special needs dentistry is the branch of oral health care that treats people with physical, medical, developmental, or cognitive conditions that limit

Dental Care With A Gentle Touch

Comprehensive Dental Care for Children