“Mouth Breathing Is Normal,” Said No Expert Ever: Why It’s a Concern

Understanding the Risks of Chronic Mouth Breathing and Where to Find Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Near You

If your child breathes through their mouth more often than their nose, you’re not alone. Many parents see mouth breathing as “just a habit” kids grow out of. But experts agree: chronic mouth breathing is not normal — and it can affect nearly every area of your child’s development, from speech clarity to sleep quality to facial growth.

The good news? With early support from a trained myofunctional speech therapist, children can learn healthier breathing patterns, strengthen orofacial muscles, and protect long-term wellness. Let’s break down why mouth breathing matters and how myofunctional therapy offers real, lasting change.

Why Mouth Breathing Is a Red Flag, Not a Childhood Phase

Occasional mouth breathing is normal — like when kids have a stuffy nose. But if your child breathes through their mouth most of the day or during sleep, it’s a sign something deeper is happening.

Here’s what experts know about chronic mouth breathing:

• It can reduce oxygen intake and impact focus and energy

• It often signals airway restriction, allergies, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, or weak oral muscles

• It disrupts facial growth, contributing to narrow jaws and crowded teeth

• It encourages unhealthy oral posture that affects speech and swallowing

• It interferes with sleep, contributing to snoring, restlessness, or even sleep-disordered breathing

When a child cannot comfortably breathe through their nose, the body compensates — but at a cost.

How Mouth Breathing Impacts Speech and Clear Communication

You might notice:

• A dull or nasal speech quality

• Difficulty articulating certain sounds

• Tongue resting low or forward in the mouth

• A lisp or unclear pronunciation

When the mouth is constantly open, the tongue can’t rest on the roof of the mouth — the position needed for developing correct speech sounds and supporting proper jaw growth. Over time, this leads to inefficient oral motor patterns that speech therapy alone may not solve.

This is why many families search for orofacial myofunctional therapy near me: they want a solution that treats the root cause, not just the symptoms.

The Hidden Ways Mouth Breathing Affects Your Child’s Health

1. Changes in Facial & Jaw Development

Children who mouth-breathe often develop:

• A long facial structure ("adenoid face")

• Narrow dental arches

• A recessed chin

• Crowded or misaligned teeth

• High, narrow palate

Why? Because nasal breathing promotes correct tongue posture — and correct tongue posture helps shape the face during growth.

2. Poor Sleep Quality

Mouth breathing can lead to:

• Snoring

• Bedwetting

• Restless sleep

• Behavioral issues

• Trouble waking up refreshed

Many kids labeled with “behavior issues” or “attention problems” are simply not sleeping well because of poor airway function.

3. Higher Risk of Oral Health Issues

Mouth breathing dries the mouth, increasing risk for:

• Cavities

• Gum irritation

• Chronic bad breath

Saliva is the mouth’s natural protection system — and mouth breathing reduces it.

4. Feeding and Swallowing Problems

Incorrect breathing habits often lead to:

• Open-mouth chewing

• Gulping or messy eating

• Difficulty managing certain textures

These feeding behaviors are often connected to poor tongue posture and weak oral musculature.

Myofunctional Therapy: A Game-Changing Solution for Mouth Breathing

If mouth breathing is the problem, myofunctional therapy is a powerful, research-supported solution.

So, what is myofunctional therapy?

It is a specialized treatment that retrains the muscles of the face, tongue, and airway to function correctly. A trained myofunctional speech therapist focuses on:

• Correct tongue posture

• Lip seal and nasal breathing

• Proper swallowing pattern

• Jaw stability and muscle balance

• Habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrust, or open-mouth posture

Unlike traditional speech therapy, which focuses on sound production, myofunctional therapy addresses how the mouth and airway work at rest, during swallowing, and during speech.

Why it works:

• It strengthens underdeveloped oral muscles

• It restores proper nasal breathing

• It improves tongue mobility and posture

• It supports facial growth and orthodontic stability

• It helps eliminate mouth breathing at the root

Many children show improvements within weeks and long-term transformation within months.

What to Expect When You Search for “Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Near Me”

A high-quality provider will begin with a comprehensive evaluation, checking:

• Tongue posture

• Lip strength

• Breathing patterns

• Facial symmetry

• Swallowing pattern

• Speech clarity

• Nasal vs. mouth breathing

• Oral habits (thumb sucking, nail biting, chewing on clothes)

Your myofunctional speech therapist will then create a personalized program with engaging exercises your child can do at home — often using fun visual cues, games, and simple routines.

Does Your Child Need Myofunctional Therapy? Look for These Signs:

• Constantly open mouth

• Snoring or noisy breathing

• Dark circles under eyes (“allergy shiners”)

• Restless sleep or fatigue

• Speech delays or unclear articulation

• Thumb sucking or pacifier use

• Tongue thrust

• Messy or slow eating

• Difficulty keeping lips together

• Forward-head posture

If you recognize several of these, it’s time to explore myofunctional therapy.

Remember: kids rarely “grow out” of mouth breathing. They grow with it — unless the root cause is addressed.

Why Early Intervention Matters

The earlier you intervene, the easier it is to reshape breathing habits and support natural facial development. Myofunctional therapy helps:

• Improve speech clarity

• Increase focus and energy

• Reduce orthodontic complications

• Support better sleep and behavior

• Improve swallowing and feeding

• Create healthier lifelong patterns

Your child’s airway health affects their entire body — which is why early support is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Mouth Breathing Isn’t “Just a Habit” — It’s a Call for Support

No expert would ever call mouth breathing “normal,” because it is almost always a sign that something isn’t working as it should. But the solution is within reach. With the right guidance, your child can learn to breathe better, sleep better, speak better, and grow with the confidence they deserve.

If you’ve been searching for orofacial myofunctional therapy near me or wondering whether myofunctional therapy could help your child — trust your instincts. The sooner the right specialist steps in, the sooner your child can thrive.