Breathing through the nose supports health in ways that many families don’t realize. The nose filters, warms, and humidifies air, while also helping the tongue rest naturally on the roof of the mouth. This position supports healthy jaw growth and stable dental arches. When someone breathes primarily through the mouth, these benefits are lost, and long-term oral and facial changes can develop.

Luckily, Airway Orthodontics in Sacramento, offers solutions to help relieve mouth breathing, improve jaw development, and support overall health.

Common Reasons People Mouth Breathe

Occasional mouth breathing is normal, but when it becomes a constant pattern, it may be caused by underlying issues such as:

  • Chronic nasal congestion or allergies
  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
  • Low tongue posture or oral habits like thumb sucking
  • Restrictive tissues under the tongue or lips (often called tongue-tie or lip-tie)

How Mouth Breathing Can Shape the Face

Facial growth responds to function. If lips stay apart and the tongue rests low, the midface may develop more narrowly, and the chin may appear recessed. This can influence both appearance and health.

Changes You Might Notice in Children

  • Longer, narrower facial shape
  • Dark circles under the eyes or a forward head posture
  • Crowded teeth and a high or narrow palate
  • Open-mouth posture during sleep or in photos
  • Snoring, restless sleep, or bedwetting beyond expected age

Changes You Might Notice in Teens and Adults

  • Relapse after previous orthodontic care
  • Jaw discomfort, headaches, or clicking
  • Daytime tiredness and poor concentration
  • Not every child or adult who mouth breathes develops all of these signs, but identifying the pattern early helps protect both growth and sleep.

When to Get an Evaluation (Earlier Is Better)

Children’s faces change rapidly from ages 2 to 12. If your child snores, keeps their mouth open at rest, or struggles with nasal breathing, an evaluation can help uncover the cause. Teens and adults also benefit from treatment, though changes may take a different approach once growth slows.

How Airway Orthodontics Guides Healthy Growth

At Airway Orthodontics in Rocklin, Dr. Kevin Adair, DDS, MSD, and the team look beyond straight teeth to assess airway size, tongue space, and jaw development.

Plans may include one or more of the following approaches:

Growth-Guided Skeletal Expansion

Skeletal expansion helps create space for the tongue, widens the palate, and can improve nasal airflow. For growing children, this supports forward and wider development. Adults can still see improvements in airway space and stability.

Myofunctional Therapy

This program uses guided exercises to retrain oral and facial muscles, encouraging nasal breathing, proper swallowing, and a stable tongue position. It strengthens the results of orthodontic treatment. Explore our approach to myofunctional therapy.

3D Imaging (CBCT) and Functional Diagnostics

Advanced imaging measures airway volume and jaw relationships, helping guide precise treatment plans. This technology gives a full picture of growth and breathing concerns.

Collaborative Care When Needed

If tonsils, adenoids, or nasal congestion contribute to the problem, the team coordinates with medical providers. Addressing both the structural and functional aspects helps create lasting results.

At-Home Support: Small Habits That Help

Parents and patients can encourage healthy breathing and posture every day. These habits are safe to try while waiting for or alongside treatment:

  • Practice lips-together, teeth-apart rest posture
  • Use saline rinses during allergy season, as directed by a physician
  • Choose chewy, fibrous foods to support jaw strength
  • Keep devices at eye level to improve body posture
  • Avoid trying mouth tape or DIY devices without professional guidance

FAQs

Frequently asked questions help parents and patients understand how mouth breathing affects growth and overall health. These answers provide clear guidance while encouraging professional evaluation when needed.

Temporary mouth breathing is normal during illness or exercise. Long-term patterns, especially in growing children, deserve evaluation to prevent changes in facial growth and sleep quality.

Yes. While growth patterns from childhood cannot be undone, adults still benefit from airway orthodontics, expansion, and oral posture therapy. These steps can improve comfort, breathing, and stability.

Treatment time depends on age, anatomy, and goals. After a full evaluation, Dr. Adair and the team will outline a clear plan with phases and milestones.

Thinking Your Child Might Mouth Breathe?

If you notice open-mouth posture, snoring, or crowded teeth at an early age, it may be time for an airway-focused evaluation. Early orthodontic guidance can significantly improve long-term growth.

At Airway Orthodontics in Rocklin, Dr. Kevin Adair and his team evaluate not just teeth, but the whole picture—airway, tongue space, and growth. Call us today at (916) 435-9575 to take the next step toward healthier breathing and balanced development.