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Mouth Breathing Treatment

Dr. Sumaiya Khan
Mouth breathing is a condition where the person breathes through the mouth. The condition is very common in children. However, before starting the treatment, the age of the child should be taken into consideration. The following story provides information about the different treatment options available for the condition.
The condition of mouth breathing arises mainly due to enlarged adenoids and narrow nasal passage. In this condition, the person breathes through the mouth instead of the nose. The condition is very common in children below the age of 8 years, not as a medical condition but as a habit. However, most of them outgrow the habit by the age of 8.
The condition is harmful for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, the hair and cilia present in the lining of the respiratory tract prevent the germs and dust particles from entering the respiratory tract. However, when we breathe through the mouth, there is no such protection offered, and it may lead to red, dry, and swollen gums.
This habit also leads to many dental problems like crowding teeth, and may even lead to elongation of face and deepening of palate. This is the reason why it is important to seek the treatment at the earliest.

Treatment Options

Breathing Exercises

While people with everted lips might inadvertently become mouth breathers, there are those who become mouth breathers out of habit, and do not have any physical (skeletal or dental) deformity. Habitual mouth breathers can certainly benefit by performing deep breathing exercises.
Affected individuals can also benefit by ensuring that their lips close completely. Whenever at home, take a pen or pencil and hold it between your lips and breathe. This makes your lips busy and you end up breathing from your nose. Though this exercise might prove to be beneficial, one must not expect quick results.

Orthodontic Correction

In some cases the condition arises due to dental problems. People who have only dental problems and no skeletal problems can opt for this treatment. If there is an anterior open bite or a crossbite in a child, then he/she may end up with this breathing problem.
It causes the child to develop distocclusion, deep bite, or overbite, which would require separate overbite correction and treatment. Also, age is an important factor, when it comes to orthodontic correction. As this treatment can only be given after the child has reached the age of twelve years or so (after the complete eruption of the canines).

Myofunctional Appliances

Myofunctional appliances that are recommended for the correction of skeletodental problems could also lead to this condition. One example of skeletodental problems that may lead to this breathing condition is a retruded mandible.
When a person has a retruded mandible, then he may end up with space between his upper and lower jaw, which might allow the air to pass. The treatment, in such cases will involve bringing the retruded mandible back into its place.
For this, appliances that push the mandible forward while closing the mouth or those that stimulate the forward placement and growth of mandible are opted for. The main limitation of this treatment is that, it can be used only in case children, and not adults.

Surgical Intervention

The condition may also arise due to the presence of some kind of obstruction in the nasal passage, which forces the person to breathe through the mouth. These conditions include deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, etc. In such cases, it may become necessary to take the help of an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon, and get the condition evaluated and treated accordingly.
It is only after a detailed study of each case, that the final treatment plan is chalked out. Also, it is best to get this condition treated at the earliest, because as age progresses, the severity of symptoms and the risk of future complications also increase.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.