Mouth Breathing in Children: Causes, Risks & Treatment in Dubai

Is your child always breathing through their mouth, even when they’re not congested? Do they snore at night, wake up with dry lips, or seem constantly tired? These could be signs of chronic mouth breathing—a condition that’s more serious than most parents realize.

Mouth breathing isn’t just a bad habit. When children breathe through their mouth instead of their nose, it can affect their facial development, dental health, sleep quality, and even their ability to focus at school. The good news? When caught early, most causes are treatable.

As pediatricians at myPediaClinic in Dubai, we see many children with undiagnosed mouth breathing. This guide explains what causes it, why it matters, and what you can do about it.

What Is Mouth Breathing?

Humans are designed to breathe through the nose. Nasal breathing filters, warms, and humidifies air before it reaches the lungs. The nose also produces nitric oxide, which helps oxygen absorption and kills bacteria.

Mouth breathing bypasses all these benefits. When children chronically breathe through their mouth—especially during sleep—it can lead to a cascade of health problems.

Occasional vs. Chronic Mouth Breathing

It’s normal to breathe through the mouth sometimes:

• During intense exercise
• When congested from a cold
• While speaking

Chronic mouth breathing is different—it’s when a child breathes through their mouth most of the time, especially during sleep and rest. This is what we need to address.

Signs Your Child May Be a Mouth Breather

Mouth breathing isn’t always obvious. Look for these signs:

Daytime Signs

• Mouth often hanging open
• Dry, cracked lips
• Frequent throat clearing
• Bad breath (even with good dental hygiene)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue and irritability
• Eating with mouth open
• Nasal-sounding speech

Nighttime Signs

• Snoring
• Sleeping with mouth open
• Restless sleep
• Drooling on pillow
• Waking up with dry mouth or sore throat
• Bedwetting (in older children)
• Night terrors or nightmares

Physical Signs (with prolonged mouth breathing)

• Long, narrow face (“adenoid face”)
• Receding chin
• Crooked teeth or crowded mouth
• Narrow upper jaw
• Dark circles under eyes (“allergic shiners”)
• Forward head posture

What Causes Mouth Breathing in Children?

Children breathe through their mouths when something blocks or restricts nasal breathing. Common causes include:

1. Enlarged Adenoids

Adenoids are tissue at the back of the nose that help fight infection. When they become enlarged—often from repeated infections—they block the nasal airway. This is one of the most common causes of mouth breathing in young children.

2. Enlarged Tonsils

Large tonsils can obstruct the airway, especially during sleep. Children with both enlarged tonsils and adenoids often have significant breathing problems.

3. Allergies

Chronic allergies cause nasal congestion and inflammation. If your child has allergic rhinitis (hay fever), their swollen nasal passages make nose breathing difficult.

4. Chronic Nasal Congestion

Frequent colds, sinus infections, or chronic rhinitis can lead to habitual mouth breathing even when congestion improves.

5. Deviated Septum

A crooked nasal septum (the wall between nostrils) can restrict airflow through one or both nasal passages. This can be present from birth or result from injury.

6. Nasal Polyps

Soft, painless growths in the nasal passages can block airflow. These are less common in children but do occur.

7. Tongue Tie

A restricted tongue (tongue tie) can affect tongue posture, which influences breathing patterns. The tongue should rest against the roof of the mouth; when it can’t, mouth breathing often develops. Learn more about tongue tie assessment at myPediaClinic.

8. Habit

Sometimes mouth breathing persists as a habit even after the original cause (like a cold or allergies) resolves. The child has learned to breathe this way and continues doing so.

Why Mouth Breathing Is a Problem

Chronic mouth breathing can affect multiple aspects of your child’s health:

1. Facial Development

The way a child breathes influences how their face grows. Nasal breathing promotes proper facial development—the tongue rests against the palate, which helps the upper jaw grow wide and forward.

Mouth breathing does the opposite. With the mouth open, the tongue sits low, and the jaw grows narrow and long. This results in:

• Long, narrow face
• Receding chin
• Flat cheekbones
• Narrow upper jaw

These changes become harder to correct as the child gets older.

2. Dental Problems

Mouth breathing is linked to numerous dental issues:

• Crooked teeth and crowding
• Overbite or underbite
• High, narrow palate
• Increased cavities (dry mouth reduces protective saliva)
• Gum disease
• Bad breath

Many children end up needing orthodontic treatment that might have been avoided with earlier intervention.

3. Sleep Disruption

Mouth breathing during sleep is less efficient than nasal breathing. It’s associated with:

• Snoring
• Sleep apnea (pauses in breathing)
• Restless sleep
• Night waking
• Bedwetting

Poor sleep affects everything—mood, behavior, learning, and growth.

4. Behavioral and Learning Issues

Children with chronic mouth breathing often show symptoms that mimic ADHD:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Poor academic performance

This is often due to poor sleep quality. Some children diagnosed with ADHD actually have undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing.

5. Speech Problems

Mouth breathing can affect speech development. Children may develop a lisp or have difficulty with certain sounds due to altered tongue posture and facial muscle development.

6. Respiratory Issues

The nose filters and humidifies air. Bypassing this system means:

• More respiratory infections
• Worsening of asthma
• Dry, irritated airways

How Is Mouth Breathing Diagnosed?

Diagnosis typically involves:

Physical Examination

Your pediatrician will examine your child’s nose, throat, and facial structure. They’ll look for enlarged tonsils, adenoids, and signs of allergies or nasal obstruction.

Sleep Assessment

Questions about your child’s sleep patterns, snoring, and daytime tiredness help assess the impact of mouth breathing.

Additional Tests (if needed)

• X-ray: To visualize enlarged adenoids
• Allergy testing: If allergies are suspected
• Sleep study: For suspected sleep apnea
• ENT evaluation: To examine the airway more closely

Treatment for Mouth Breathing

Treatment depends on the underlying cause:

For Allergies

• Antihistamines
• Nasal corticosteroid sprays
• Allergen avoidance
• Allergy immunotherapy (in severe cases)

For Enlarged Adenoids/Tonsils

If enlarged adenoids or tonsils are causing significant airway obstruction:

• Adenoidectomy: Surgical removal of adenoids
• Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of tonsils
• Adenotonsillectomy: Removal of both

These are common, safe procedures that often dramatically improve breathing and sleep.

For Nasal Obstruction

Depending on the cause:

• Nasal sprays to reduce inflammation
• Treatment of chronic sinus infections
• Surgical correction of deviated septum (rare in children)

For Tongue Tie

If tongue restriction is contributing to mouth breathing, a frenotomy (tongue tie release) may be recommended.

Myofunctional Therapy

This is “physical therapy for the mouth.” A trained therapist teaches exercises to:

• Strengthen tongue and facial muscles
• Retrain proper tongue posture
• Promote nasal breathing
• Correct swallowing patterns

Myofunctional therapy is especially helpful when mouth breathing has become a habit.

Orthodontic Intervention

If mouth breathing has already affected jaw and dental development:

• Palatal expanders to widen the upper jaw
• Braces or clear aligners
• Functional appliances

Airway-focused orthodontics addresses not just teeth alignment but also breathing.

What Parents Can Do at Home

While you work with healthcare providers to address the underlying cause, these strategies can help:

During the Day

• Gently remind your child to close their mouth and breathe through their nose
• Encourage nose-blowing to clear congestion
• Keep allergens minimized in the home
• Use a humidifier if air is dry
• Promote physical activity (helps with nasal breathing)

At Night

• Elevate the head of the bed slightly
• Use saline nasal spray before bed
• Consider an air purifier in the bedroom
• Keep the room cool and well-ventilated

General Health

• Treat colds and allergies promptly
• Maintain good dental hygiene (dry mouth increases cavity risk)
• Encourage water intake
• Avoid mouth-drying medications when possible

When to See a Doctor

Consult your pediatrician in Dubai if your child:

• Breathes through their mouth most of the time
• Snores regularly
• Has pauses in breathing during sleep
• Wakes up tired despite adequate sleep
• Has persistent nasal congestion
• Shows signs of facial changes (long face, receding chin)
• Has crowded teeth or a narrow palate
• Struggles with attention or behavior

Early intervention can prevent long-term problems with facial development, dental health, and sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mouth Breathing

Is mouth breathing really that serious?

Yes, chronic mouth breathing can significantly impact facial development, dental health, sleep quality, and cognitive function. The effects worsen the longer it continues untreated. Early intervention is key.

Can my child outgrow mouth breathing?

Some children do improve as their airways grow larger. However, many don’t outgrow it, and waiting can allow permanent facial and dental changes. It’s best to address the cause rather than wait.

Does mouth breathing cause crooked teeth?

Yes, mouth breathing is associated with crowded teeth, narrow arches, and bite problems. When the mouth is open, the tongue doesn’t rest against the palate to guide proper jaw development.

Can allergies cause mouth breathing?

Absolutely. Chronic allergies cause nasal congestion that forces children to breathe through their mouths. Treating the allergies often resolves the mouth breathing.

What is adenoid face?

Adenoid face describes facial features that develop from chronic mouth breathing in childhood—a long, narrow face, open mouth posture, receding chin, and dark under-eye circles. These changes become harder to reverse with age.

Does my child need surgery for mouth breathing?

Not always. Surgery (adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy) is recommended when enlarged adenoids or tonsils significantly block the airway and other treatments haven’t helped. Many children improve with non-surgical approaches.

Can mouth breathing cause ADHD symptoms?

Mouth breathing often disrupts sleep, and poor sleep can cause symptoms that look like ADHD—hyperactivity, poor concentration, and irritability. Some children diagnosed with ADHD actually have undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing.

What is myofunctional therapy?

Myofunctional therapy involves exercises to strengthen the tongue and facial muscles, promote proper tongue posture, and encourage nasal breathing. It’s like physical therapy for the mouth and is often used alongside other treatments.

At what age should mouth breathing be treated?

The earlier the better. Facial bones are still developing in childhood, so early intervention can prevent permanent changes. However, treatment can be helpful at any age.

Will treating mouth breathing improve my child’s sleep?

Usually, yes. Once the airway obstruction is addressed, most children sleep better, snore less, and wake more refreshed. This often improves daytime behavior and concentration as well.

Can mouth breathing be caused by pacifier use or thumb sucking?

Prolonged pacifier use or thumb sucking can contribute to mouth breathing by affecting dental and facial development. If these habits continue past age 3-4, discuss strategies for stopping with your pediatrician or dentist.

Is snoring in children normal?

Occasional snoring during a cold is normal. Regular snoring, especially loud snoring or snoring with pauses in breathing, is not normal and should be evaluated for sleep-disordered breathing.

Help for Your Child’s Breathing

If you’re concerned about your child’s breathing, don’t wait. The pediatric team at myPediaClinic can evaluate your child, identify the underlying cause, and recommend appropriate treatment.

From allergy management to tongue tie assessment to sleep concerns, we take a comprehensive approach to ensure your child breathes—and sleeps—their best.

Book an appointment with our specialists today.