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November 12, 2024

How Crowded Teeth Are Connected to Breathing and Development

Understanding the Link Between Crowded Teeth and Breathing

Crowded teeth are often caused by a narrow upper jaw, or palate, that doesn’t provide enough space for all the teeth to fit correctly. You may be asking, “Why would my child’s jaw develop too narrowly?” A major factor is something you might not expect: tongue posture and mouth breathing.

The Role of Tongue Posture in Dental Development

The natural, healthy position for the tongue is to rest gently against the roof of the mouth. When the tongue stays in this position, it helps shape the dental arch (the area where the teeth grow) and allows enough space for all the teeth. But if your child’s tongue isn’t resting at the roof of the mouth—known as low tongue posture—it’s not helping create that ideal, wide dental arch. Instead, the upper jaw can develop too narrowly, leading to crowded teeth.

Causes of Low Tongue Posture: Why It Happens

One common cause of low tongue posture is mouth breathing. When children breathe primarily through their mouths—often due to nasal congestion or habit—their tongues naturally sit lower in the mouth. This can restrict proper jaw development, setting up a cycle that leads to crowded teeth and a smaller airway.

How Mouth Breathing, Snoring, and Teeth Grinding Point to Other Problems

Crowded teeth are just one piece of the puzzle. Mouth breathing and low tongue posture are also connected to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a term for issues that cause breathing problems during sleep. Here’s why this matters:

Sleep-disordered breathing can lead to other signs and symptoms, like snoring, teeth grinding, and restless sleep. Ideally, children should breathe quietly through their noses while sleeping, with no snoring or grinding sounds. Snoring and teeth grinding in children are not normal—they often signal an obstructed or narrow airway. Over time, this can affect a child’s development, energy, mood, focus, and learning.

The Effects of Sleep-Disordered Breathing on Development

When children experience sleep-disordered breathing, it can create a range of health challenges. Here’s what can happen when crowded teeth, mouth breathing, and low tongue posture go unaddressed:

Behavioral Issues and ADHD-like Symptoms: Low-quality sleep caused by restricted breathing can lead to trouble focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior—symptoms that can look a lot like ADHD.
Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis): Interrupted sleep from poor breathing patterns can impact the nervous system’s ability to control the bladder during the night, leading to bedwetting in some children.
Ear Infections and Ear Tubes: Children who breathe primarily through their mouths may have pressure differences that lead to fluid buildup in the ears, which can cause recurring ear infections and, in some cases, lead to the need for ear tubes.
Night Terrors and Poor Sleep Quality: Children with sleep-disordered breathing often wake up frequently, and their sleep isn’t as restful. They may experience night terrors and have a harder time staying asleep.

Putting the Pieces Together: How Low Tongue Posture, Mouth Breathing, and Crowded Teeth Are Connected

Here’s a quick recap to help connect all of these factors:

Crowded Teeth – Often a sign of a narrow upper jaw caused by low tongue posture. Without the tongue pressing against the roof of the mouth, the upper jaw doesn’t develop as widely as it should.
Low Tongue Posture – Often caused by mouth breathing, allergies, or habits like pacifier use. Low tongue posture means the tongue isn’t supporting the growth of a wide, open dental arch, leading to crowding.
Mouth Breathing – Encourages low tongue posture, narrow jaw development, and a restricted airway. Mouth breathing can also contribute to snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing – Symptoms like snoring, teeth grinding, restless sleep, and even daytime behavioral issues can signal an airway problem due to a narrow jaw and low tongue posture.

Together, these factors form a cycle that can affect everything from a child’s sleep to their focus in school.

How to Support Healthy Development: Improving Tongue Posture, Breathing, and Dental Growth

The good news is that there are ways to address these issues early and support healthy development:

Encourage Proper Tongue Posture: Help your child learn to rest their tongue on the roof of their mouth. Exercises and awareness can assist in keeping the tongue in the correct position, promoting better jaw development and a more open airway.
Promote Nasal Breathing and Nasal Hygiene: Teach your child to keep their nasal passages clear with saline sprays or rinses, especially during allergy seasons, to encourage nasal breathing. When children breathe through their noses, they’re less likely to develop mouth breathing habits.
Consult a Pediatric Dentist or Orthodontist for Maxillary Development: Pediatric dentists and orthodontists can support jaw development with appliances that help expand the upper jaw, creating more space for teeth, improving the airway, and allowing room for proper tongue posture.
Consider Myofunctional Therapy: This therapy uses exercises to strengthen and retrain facial, oral, and throat muscles, supporting proper tongue posture, encouraging nasal breathing, and helping children develop healthy swallowing and breathing patterns.
Identify and Manage Allergies: Chronic allergies or nasal congestion can lead to mouth breathing. Addressing allergies promotes nasal breathing, which supports better tongue posture and jaw development.

Discover how improving tongue posture and jaw development can positively impact sleep, focus, and overall growth. Connect with our pediatric dental team today for expert guidance and personalized solutions.

FAQ: Common Questions About Low Tongue Posture, Mouth Breathing, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children

How does low tongue posture lead to crowded teeth?

Low tongue posture means the tongue isn’t resting against the roof of the mouth, so it doesn’t apply the natural upward pressure that helps shape a wide dental arch. This lack of support can lead to a narrow upper jaw and crowded teeth.

Is it normal for children to snore or grind their teeth at night?

No, children shouldn’t snore or grind their teeth at night. Snoring and teeth grinding are often signs of sleep-disordered breathing, which can impact a child’s sleep quality and overall development.

Why is mouth breathing a problem for children’s development?

Mouth breathing encourages a low tongue posture, which can narrow the palate, restrict the airway, and affect jaw development. Over time, this can lead to sleep-disordered breathing and related health issues.

How can I help my child breathe through their nose?

Encourage nasal hygiene with gentle saline sprays or rinses, especially during allergy seasons. Also, remind your child to keep their lips closed while at rest, which encourages nasal breathing.

What is myofunctional therapy, and how does it help?

Myofunctional therapy uses exercises to train the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat to support proper tongue posture, nasal breathing, and swallowing patterns. It’s particularly effective for children with low tongue posture and mouth breathing habits

Crowded teeth, mouth breathing, snoring, and teeth grinding are more than just minor concerns; they can indicate important developmental issues that may impact your child’s airway, sleep quality, and overall health. By addressing low tongue posture, promoting nasal breathing, and consulting healthcare providers, you can help support your child’s dental, airway, and brain development. Early intervention can make a world of difference, setting your child up for healthy sleep, optimal growth, and a bright future.

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