Breathing through the mouth can have consequences such as facial changes due to jaw dysplasia, open bite, misaligned teeth, oral dehydration, and sleep apnea.
Oral problems in children are one of the main causes of absenteeism from school. Therefore, the General Council of Dentists recommends that you undergo a dental examination before starting classes. which will allow to diagnose any problem with oral health at an early stage and solve it in time.
A dentist, in addition to treating cavities, dental injuries, and malocclusion, also identifies other conditions that may require treatment, such as mouth breathing. Children who breathe through their mouths can adverse effects on oral health and overall health develop.:
–facial changes: Breathing through the mouth alters the growth and development of the jaws. Mouth breathing is associated with an open bite, a narrow palate, and a receding jaw.
–uneven teeth: Mouth breathing can affect the position of the teeth, which can become crooked and crowded, making hygiene difficult and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
–bite problems: Children who breathe through their mouth often have jaw problems that make it difficult for them to bite and chew their food effectively.
–oral dehydration: Mouth breathing causes dry mouth and reduces saliva production, creating a tendency to cavities, bad breath and bacteria buildup.
–snoring and coughing at night: due to the lack of breathing through the nose, when the child lies down, it is difficult for him to breathe and sleep peacefully.
–sleep apnea: Apnea is a respiratory pause that occurs during sleep and prevents good oxygenation and proper rest.
–Irritability, inattention and fatigue.
–Recurrent otitis media and low hearing.
abnormal breathing
Mouth breathing in a child can be caused by several causes, such as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, respiratory infections, vegetation or growth of the tonsils, and muscular hypotension.
Nasal breathing has a protective function. When air enters through the nose, nose hair filters it and prevents dust particles, viruses, bacteria and fungi from entering the body.. In addition, the nasal passages warm and humidify the air, preventing it from entering too cold, and also stimulates the production of nitric acid, a substance that facilitates the distribution and absorption of oxygen by the lungs.
“None of these functions occur when breathing through the mouth. Breathing through the mouth entails inhaling more polluted air rather than temperate and dry air.. Therefore, if a child is noticed to be breathing in this way, a dentist and a doctor should be consulted so that they can evaluate this and prescribe appropriate treatment in order to solve the problem and avoid its consequences,” explains Dr. Oscar Castro Reino. President of the General Council of Dentists.
In this sense, Dr. Castro recalls that “70% of children under 4 in our country have never been to the dentist. Many parents mistakenly believe that because temporary teeth are about to fall out, they are not important, but perform defining functions: they save room for permanent teeth, allow you to chew and pronounce sounds correctly, give children a sense of dignity.. Poor health of milk teeth is a risk factor for future permanent teeth. Therefore, delaying the first visit to the dentist up to 2-3 years has a negative impact on the condition of the child’s oral cavity.“, he concludes.