Patient resources
Breathing, sleep and your child's growing smile
How your child breathes, sleeps and uses their mouth can be linked to how their teeth and jaws grow. Most children who snore or breathe through their mouth are fine — but some have something worth checking.
Quick facts
- Children grow best breathing through their nose, with lips closed and the tongue resting on the roof of the mouth.
- Breathing through the mouth most of the time can be linked to a narrow top jaw, crowded teeth or a bite that doesn't meet well.
- Snoring is common — about 15–20 in every 100 children snore. Only about 2–3 in every 100 have sleep apnoea (breathing that stops and starts during sleep).
- Sleep apnoea is a medical condition. A doctor diagnoses it, not a dentist.
- Our job is to notice the signs, check the mouth and refer you to the right person.
- A first orthodontic check is usually recommended at around 7–10 years old.
How breathing and habits affect teeth and jaws
Your child's jaws grow a lot in the first 12 years. The tongue, lips, cheeks and breathing all press on the teeth and jaws as they grow.
When the tongue rests up high, it gently supports the width of the top jaw. When a child breathes through their mouth, the tongue often sits low. Over time this may be linked to:
- a narrow or high roof of the mouth
- crowded teeth
- a crossbite — the top back teeth sit inside the bottom ones
- an open bite — the front teeth don't meet
Every child is different. Genes play a big part in the shape of the teeth and jaws too.
What can cause these problems?
There's often more than one cause.
A blocked nose or breathing problems
- Large tonsils or adenoids. Adenoids are lumps of tissue at the back of the nose. This is the most common cause of snoring and sleep apnoea in children.
- Allergies or hay fever, or a nose that's often blocked or runny.
- Frequent colds, sinus problems or asthma.
- Being above a healthy weight.
Habits
- Thumb or finger sucking, especially after about age 4–5.
- Using a dummy for a long time.
- Tongue thrust — the tongue pushes forward when swallowing.
- Resting with the mouth open.
- Grinding or clenching teeth.
Early feeding and eating
- Breastfeeding and bottles. Shorter breastfeeding and longer bottle use have been linked to some bite problems in studies, but the research is mixed. Please don't feel guilty — lots of things affect how a child grows.
- A very soft diet may give the jaws less chewing work. The evidence is still limited, but crunchy, chewy whole foods are a good idea anyway.
The tongue and mouth
- Tongue tie — but only if it stops the tongue moving properly. A tight-looking band under the tongue isn't always a problem.
- Losing baby teeth early, for example from decay or an injury.
Family and other factors
- A family history of crowded teeth, jaw size differences, or missing or extra teeth.
- Some medical conditions that affect muscle tone.
When to talk to us
Tick any that apply to your child. If you tick one or more, let us know at your next visit.
At night
During the day
In the mouth
Signs you might see on the face
- Dark circles or puffy bags under the eyes (sometimes called “allergic shiners”). When the nose is blocked for a long time — from allergies, hay fever or large adenoids — blood can pool in the small veins under the eyes, making the area look dark and swollen. Poor sleep from snoring can add to the tired look.
- Extra creases under the lower eyelids. These are linked mainly with allergies.
- A crease across the nose, from rubbing an itchy, runny nose upwards.
- Lips apart when resting, with the mouth open for much of the day.
None of these means something is wrong on its own — dark circles are common and often run in families. They're worth mentioning to your GP if you also notice a blocked nose, snoring or mouth breathing.
These signs don't mean your child has a problem. They're a reason to check.
See a GP straight away
If your child often stops breathing in their sleep or struggles to breathe, see your GP — don't wait for a dental visit. In an emergency, call 000.
What we check
At a check-up we can:
- ask about sleep, snoring, breathing and habits
- look at the teeth, the bite and the width of the top jaw
- look at the tonsils and the back of the throat
- check how the lips close and how the tongue moves
- look for tooth wear from grinding
- take X-rays if they're needed
Then we explain what we found and what the next steps might be.
Who else may help
Depending on what we find, we can refer you to:
- Your GP — the first stop for breathing, allergy and sleep concerns.
- An ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist — for tonsils, adenoids or a blocked nose.
- A sleep physician — who may arrange a sleep study (an overnight test of breathing and sleep).
- An allergist — for ongoing allergies or hay fever.
- A specialist orthodontist — for jaw growth and bite problems.
- A speech pathologist or myofunctional therapist — for tongue, lip and swallowing habits.
- A lactation consultant or child health nurse — for babies with feeding problems.
Treatment depends on the cause
There's no one treatment that suits every child. Depending on the cause, options may include:
- Medical care — nose sprays, managing allergies, or removing tonsils or adenoids. Your doctor decides this.
- Habit support — help to stop thumb, finger or dummy sucking.
- Tongue and lip exercises — usually with a speech pathologist or therapist.
- Orthodontic care — for example, an appliance to widen a narrow top jaw, or other early treatment, when there's a clear dental reason.
- Tongue tie care — only if the tongue can't move properly. Non-surgical care is usually tried first.
- Watching and waiting — many things improve as children grow, and regular check-ups help us keep track.
Orthodontic treatment can help with the teeth and bite. It's not a replacement for a doctor diagnosing or treating sleep apnoea.
All treatment has benefits and risks. We'll talk these through with you so you can decide.
Adults: snoring, tiredness and sleep apnoea
Adults can have mouth breathing, snoring and sleep apnoea too. Sleep apnoea is when the airway keeps narrowing or closing during sleep, so breathing stops and starts. It's common, and many people don't know they have it.
Left untreated, it's linked with high blood pressure, heart problems and accidents from drowsy driving — so it's worth checking properly.
Signs to look for
Weight, alcohol, sedating medicines, a blocked nose and the shape of your jaw and throat can all play a part.
What to do next
- See your GP first. Tell them about your snoring, tiredness and anything your partner has noticed. Your GP will ask some short questions to check your risk.
- Get a sleep study. Your GP can arrange a sleep study to find out whether you have sleep apnoea and how severe it is. It's often done at home with a small monitor you wear overnight, or sometimes in a sleep clinic.
- Ask your GP for a referral to an ENT specialist. An ear, nose and throat specialist checks for things that narrow the airway — such as a bent nasal septum, nasal polyps, swollen tissue inside the nose, or large tonsils. Treating these can help your breathing, and can make other treatments work better.
Depending on your results, your doctor may also involve a sleep physician to talk through treatment options, such as a CPAP machine.
Where the dentist fits in
For some adults with snoring or sleep apnoea, a custom-made splint that holds the lower jaw forward during sleep can help. This is only made after your sleep study and your doctor's advice, and we check it regularly once you have it. Bring your sleep study results to us and we can talk about whether it might suit you.
Common questions
My child snores. Should I be worried?
Not necessarily — lots of children snore, especially with a cold. It's worth checking if they snore most nights, or you notice pauses, gasping, restless sleep or daytime tiredness. Start with your GP.
When should my child first see an orthodontist?
A first check is usually recommended around 7–10 years old. We'll suggest it sooner if we notice something at a check-up.
Will fixing the teeth fix the snoring?
Not on its own. Snoring and sleep apnoea need a medical check to find the cause. Orthodontic care may be part of the plan for some children, alongside their doctor's advice.
Does my child's tongue tie need cutting?
Only if it stops the tongue moving properly and causes a real problem. Many tongue ties never need treatment.
Should I tape my child's mouth closed at night?
No. Mouth taping isn't recommended for children. If your child breathes through their mouth, the first step is finding out why.
I snore. Can I just get a splint from the dentist?
We recommend seeing your GP and having a sleep study first. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnoea, which needs a proper diagnosis. Once you know what's going on, a splint may be one of your options.
Why see an ENT if I snore?
An ENT specialist can find and treat things that block the nose or throat, like a bent septum, polyps or large tonsils. Clearing the airway can help your breathing and your other treatments. Your GP can refer you.
Worried about your own or your child's breathing, sleep or teeth? Call us on 07 4635 1444 or book a check-up.
More for families: children's dentistry and CDBS bulk billing.
General information only — it isn't a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from your doctor or dentist. Every person is different and results vary. Any treatment carries risks; before going ahead with a procedure, you may want to get a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Based on information from the Sleep Health Foundation, the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, the Australian Society of Orthodontists and published research reviews.