The birth, the silence, the waiting... for... that first Breath. The first one is considered crucial, but subsequent breaths are greatly underestimated - in infancy, early childhood and into adulthood. And yet proper breathing is the basis of our health and daily functioning. And what is the connection between breathing and an open mouth? Could an open mouth in a child have something to do with abnormal muscle tone? We explain these questions and many more in the following text.
What worries parents?
Questions and doubts often multiply in the minds of parents:
- If the baby is sleeping, eating and breathing... then there is probably nothing to worry about?
- But is it normal that the baby's face is constantly open, the tongue rests lazily at the bottom of the mouth, sometimes even sticking out?
Anxiety begins to rise as parental intuition kicks in, hinting louder and louder that something is wrong.
The child gets tired, breathes loudly, sometimes makes wheezing-like sounds, and can snore or suffocate at night.
Effects of proper breathing on eating, performance, speech, health and brain function
One of the prerequisites for the correct development of the face (middle facial floor) is the wide position of the tongue on the palate. It is this 'glued-in' lingual mass that gives shape to the palate, the future dental arches, and enables proper sucking, chewing, biting and articulation.
Inhaling and exhaling through the nose is not only about filtering and warming the air - it is also about shaping the face properly, better saturating the body with oxygen and making the brain work more efficiently.
The domino effect - how a seemingly insignificant open mouth damages a child's development
If there are 'stairs' in a child's early development, often subsequent problems overlap - like a domino effect....
Abnormal breathing in children can cause:
- an open mouth,
- thickened and tented upper lip,
- malocclusion,
- speech defects,
- lack of correct resting position of the tongue,
- Highly arched palate,
- narrowed breathing space,
- sleep apnoea,
- difficulties with sucking-swallowing-breathing coordination,
- difficulties in expanding the diet,
- improper food processing,
- sensory difficulties (oral hypersensitivity),
- sluggishness,
- attention deficit disorder,
- food allergies,
- ear infections,
- ENT problems (e.g. hypertrophy of the third tonsil),
- mandibular retraction,
- dark circles.
In some cases abnormal breathing, a constantly open mouth and a protruding tongue can lead to a change in facial features. The proportions and symmetry are disturbed - the jaw recedes, the face appears flat and drawn, and the cheekbones have little convexity. Such a face is sometimes referred to as 'staring'.
A child's open mouth and abnormal breathing versus muscle tension
In physiotherapy diagnosis an open mouth is often the result of hypotoniaThis is reduced muscle tone. The most commonly affected muscles are the circular muscles of the mouth and facial muscles, but can also co-exist with reduced central tension - in the trunk.
Poor trunk stabilisation, lack of head and jaw control - these are some of the common causes of an open mouth. A neurologist will take care of the face, but this paediatric physiotherapist will work to improve tension throughout the body. The head is closely linked to the torso - so acting purely locally is not enough.
Breathing through the nose - why is it so important?
By breathing through the nose, more oxygen is supplied to the body, resulting in better oxygenation of the cells. The air is purified, humidified and warmed - and this protects the respiratory tract from bacteria and pollutants. Thanks to this breathing through the nose promotes health respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous system.
Benefits of breathing through the nose:
- Better blood oxidation (10-20% higher than with mouth breathing),
- reduced risk of respiratory infections,
- greater involvement of the diaphragm (which improves digestion and stabilises the spine),
- less fatigue - also during physical exertion.
Evolutionarily, the craniofacial has changed - becoming narrower and more elongated. The masseter muscles do not work as they used to. We no longer process tough meats or bread crusts. We slice and grate apples... Children don't chew.
The toddler industry inundates us with smooth mousses in tubes. Parents obsessively mix every meal - and then end up with a toddler of a few years old in the surgery because they the child cannot bite. And yet the respiratory pathway should not change evolutionarily. No one can take our nose away from us! It is the best filter - it creates antiviral substances, acts intelligently, protects against pathogens.
What to look out for and when to see a neurologist?
- first feeding difficulties
- sleeping with your mouth open
- resting position of the tongue
- structure of the frenulum, hard and soft palate
- nasal permeability
- feeding position and nursing
- the process of expanding the diet:
- does the child chew?
- does he close his mouth when eating?
- Does he drink from an open cup at 8-9 months?
- Is the structure of the meals difficult?
What can you do with an open mouth?
Therapeutic measures you can take if the child does not close his mouth:
- Evaluation and neurological therapy - exercises to strengthen the circular muscles of the mouth, cheeks and jaw.
- Respiratory track re-education - learning to breathe through the nose.
- Sensory stimulation in the face and mouth.
- Speech therapy massage, electrostimulation, dynamic plastering, sensory therapy.
- Orthodontic control - when malocclusion is suspected.
- Interdisciplinary cooperation - neurologist, physiotherapist, ENT specialist, allergist, orthodontist, osteopath, neurologist.
Don't delay - act fast
The causes of an abnormal breathing track can be many - from muscular tension in infantsthrough reflux to anatomical structure. Fortunately, a young child does not yet have fixed muscle patterns - much can be changed. The effects often come quickly. The first step is you - the attentive parent. The second - an experienced specialist.
It would be super to swap therapy hours for... physiology! What does that mean? Instead of exercise - chewing, touching, tasting. Together, at the table, with the family. Just that and THAT.
Instead of putting out fires - take care of the foundations of your child's health
The social and family costs of treating the effects of a child's abnormal breathing can be enormous. This includes visits to orthodontists, ENT specialists, allergologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists... The list of specialists to whom the child is referred is growing, and yet it is possible to react earlier - more effectively, more gently and more cheaply. Also emotionally.
Is the pharmaceutical and feeding industry interested in a healthy patient? Well, answer for yourselves. But you, dear parents, want the best for your children. So don't look to TikTok for answers. This is not a subject where you can afford to make mistakes. Go to specialists - to medical institutions, to people with knowledge and experience.
Breathwork offers great opportunities. If you react quickly - you will not only gain money, but above all time, peace of mind and your child's health. And that, after all, is priceless.
Karolina Wojciechowska
neurologist
Anna Bernaś
paediatric physiotherapist
