Mouth Breathing and Jaw Growth in Children
The way a child breathes directly affects the width of the upper jaw.
How mouth breathing affects the jaw
Normally, with the mouth closed, the tongue rests lightly against the palate and gives the upper jaw constant gentle support from inside, balancing the inward pressure of the cheeks so the jaw develops its width. When the mouth stays open the tongue drops and that support is lost; the cheeks keep pressing inward, so the upper jaw narrows, the palate rises and there is less room for the teeth, leading to crowding and sometimes a posterior crossbite. The change is gradual through the growth years, which is why noticing it early matters.
What families can notice
- The mouth staying open during sleep
- Snoring or noisy breathing
- A dry mouth and chapped lips in the morning
- Breathing through the mouth during the day as well
- Restless sleep with frequent position changes
- Daytime tiredness and poor concentration
- Front teeth not meeting, or upper teeth tipping forward
When to have it assessed and what is done
The first step is to find the cause, which usually needs an ENT assessment: enlarged adenoids, large tonsils and allergic congestion are the commonest, and telling the child to close the mouth achieves nothing while the nose is blocked. On the dental side the work is to assess how growth is affected and refer where needed. If the upper jaw has narrowed, expansion carried out while growth continues is far less invasive than what is possible once growth is complete. Because a dry mouth raises decay and gum inflammation risk, preventive care and recall intervals are planned accordingly.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Varsak Karsiyaka
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Varsak Karsiyaka.
Getting here from Varsak Karsiyaka
Varsak Karşıyaka lies in the Kepez district of Antalya; Kepez is one of the central districts, about 6 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Varsak Karsiyaka, such as Altıayak, Aydoğmuş, Çankaya, Esentepe. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Varsak Karsiyaka.
Appointments for Varsak Karsiyaka
At this distance, splitting treatment into visits is no problem for patients from Varsak Karşıyaka, and attending reviews is easy too. As with patients from Kepez generally, appointments for families from Varsak Karsiyaka can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Varsak Karsiyaka
Setting out from Varsak Karşıyaka at night is quick; come without delay in an emergency, and calling as you leave means preparation is done in advance. For patients coming from Dental Clinic in Varsak Karsiyaka, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
Interproximal Reduction Between Teeth
One way of gaining space in orthodontics is to remove a very thin layer from the sides of the teeth. It sounds alarming to patients; the amount removed is a small fraction of the enamel thickness.
How much is removed
Between 0.2 and 0.5 mm per tooth, taken from the two adjacent surfaces in total. Enamel at the contact area is markedly thicker than that, so dentine is not exposed. Done on several teeth in an arch it yields a few millimetres overall — enough to resolve mild and moderate crowding, and it can make extraction unnecessary.
Does it increase decay risk?
Research indicates it does not; the surface is polished afterwards and fluoride applied. There is even a gain: after reduction the contact between the teeth becomes flatter and broader and floss passes more easily. What raises risk is not the procedure but leaving the surface rough, which is why the polishing step is never skipped.
When it is not suitable
Other methods are preferred in these situations:
- Where the space needed exceeds a few millimetres
- Where the teeth are already narrow and triangular
- Where there is a defect in the enamel
- Where there are many fillings and crowns
- Where the patient has a marked history of sensitivity
