Breathing Patterns in Your Child: What’s Normal?

Breathing patterns in children can tell you a lot about their oral health. If you’re wondering whether your child’s breathing is normal, regardless of whether they’re awake or asleep, we’ll look at what’s standard and when you may want to schedule a check-up with anorthodontist in Shaker Heights.

Abnormal Breathing Patterns in Kids

Abnormal breathing patterns may look like any of the following:

• Mouth Breathing: Mouth breathing can be caused by a deviated septum, which can make it hard for air to pass through the nose.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: Snoring is common for kids, but if it happens all night or it’s very loud, it could be a sign that their airway is blocked while they’re asleep.

As a general rule, the problems have to be fairly advanced before you should start worrying that there’s a blockage. Reminding your child to breathe through their nose or getting breathing strips could easily solve the problem if the issues aren’t severe.

How Can an Orthodontist Help with Breathing?

In the case of a more complex problem, you may want to have your child see an orthodontist. Abnormal breathing patterns can lead to anything from a dry mouth to an elongated face to sleep disruptions. They may be more prone to cavities or even gum disease. Abnormal breathing patterns can also impact how the teeth and jaw align, leading to expensive orthodontic treatments in the future.

See an Orthodontist in Solon, OH 

At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics,airway-focused orthodontics in Solon, OH, can have a huge impact on your child’s oral health and quality of life. To learn more about how it can help open up the passages, contact us today for more information.