Tooth Calendar Blog
Child Sleeps With Mouth Open or Snores? How Mouth Breathing Affects Teeth
Mouth breathing and nightly snoring can affect a child's bite and facial growth. Learn why, how to watch for a few nights, and when to get it checked.
At a glance
- Jot down mouth breathing and snoring for a few nights
- Constant mouth breathing can make the palate narrow and high
- Seems to stop breathing in sleep? Don't put off a checkup
When you peek at your sleeping child, you might see their mouth hanging slightly open, or hear a snore that seems far too big for such a small body. It's easy to find it cute and move on. But if it happens every night, it's worth a closer look. Here's why mouth breathing and snoring matter, and what you can watch for at home.
Breathing through the mouth changes the mouth and the bite
We're meant to breathe through the nose. But when allergies or large tonsils and adenoids (tonsil-like tissue behind the nose) keep the nose blocked, a child naturally switches to breathing through the mouth.
With the mouth open, the tongue drops low. Normally the tongue rests against the roof of the mouth and supports the upper jaw from the inside. When it sits low, that support is gone. The palate can then grow narrow and high. As a result, the upper teeth may end up sticking out, or the dental arch may become too narrow. A child's jaw and face are still growing, so a habit that lasts a long time can affect the direction of that growth.
Mouth breathing is linked to cavities, too. An open mouth dries out. Saliva can't do its job of rinsing and protecting the teeth as well. That's why children who breathe through the mouth tend to get more cavities.
Don't brush off snoring, either. Anyone can snore for a few days with a cold. But if your child snores every night, wakes often, seems sleepy during the day, or has trouble concentrating, the airway may be narrowing during sleep. A child who doesn't sleep deeply can be tired, cranky, or distracted during the day. That's sometimes mistaken for a personality or behavior issue. This is why it helps to look at both nights and days together.
Watch for a few nights
- For a few nights, quietly check on your sleeping child and jot down whether the mouth is open and whether they snore.
- Note any moments when breathing seems to pause and then restart with a big gasp, and whether they toss and turn or wake often.
- Notice whether they wake up easily in the morning, and whether they seem sleepy or distracted during the day.
- If the mouth hangs open during the day too, or the lips are often chapped, write that down and mention it at the dental checkup.
- If you can, record a short clip of the snoring. It makes explaining things at the appointment much easier.
Because the mouth dries out easily, be extra careful with brushing and drinking water. Finish the bedtime brushing yourself, and offer water often during the day.
A common mistake is simply telling your child, "Close your mouth." If the nose is blocked, they really can't keep it closed. Before trying to change the habit, find out why they're breathing through the mouth. Once you know the cause, your child can get the right treatment. And since they're growing fast right now, checking early helps both the bite and their growth.
Frequently asked questions
My child only sleeps with the mouth open when they have a cold. Is that okay?
Breathing through the mouth for a few days with a stuffy nose is common. If the open mouth or snoring continues after the cold is gone, have it checked.
My child grinds their teeth and snores. Are these related?
Teeth grinding and snoring do sometimes show up together. But grinding doesn't always mean there's a breathing problem during sleep. If the snoring happens almost every night, have the pediatrician take a look.
Can the dentist notice these problems?
A dentist may suspect a sleep-breathing problem from the shape of the palate, the bite, and the size of the tonsils. Diagnosis and treatment are decided together with the pediatrician and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.
What kind of doctor should we see for snoring?
Start with the pediatrician. Pediatricians treat snoring as a symptom worth checking during a child's visit, and may suggest a sleep study if needed. If the nose is often blocked, an ENT doctor can check the tonsils and adenoids.
If the dental arch has narrowed, can orthodontics fix it?
You can talk with the dentist about bite and arch problems. But if whatever is blocking the nose isn't treated, your child will go back to mouth breathing. The cause needs to be treated, too.
When to get it checked
- Your child seems to stop breathing for moments during sleep: don't put off getting it checked
- Snoring almost every night
- Very sleepy during the day or having trouble concentrating
- A nose that's often blocked: see an ENT doctor to check for allergies, enlarged tonsils, or adenoids
- Mouth hanging open all day or often chapped lips: mention it at the dental checkup
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Sources
- AAPD · Policy on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2023)
The information in this article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional dental care. Talk to a dentist about your child's condition.