Has your child started breathing through their mouth more often? Maybe they wake up feeling tired, struggle to focus during the day, or snore at night? These signs might not seem related at first, but breathing plays a bigger role in overall health than many realize. Subtle changes in sleep patterns or daytime focus can sometimes point to underlying concerns with jaw development and airflow.
At Razi Orthodontics, we work with families in Naperville and Wheaton to monitor growing smiles and identify issues that may affect breathing. Using Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, we can support healthy breathing in kids by addressing these concerns early, helping them feel more rested and comfortable as they grow.
What Is Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment?
Phase I treatment is an early form of orthodontic care designed to guide your child’s developing jaw and teeth before serious problems emerge. Often recommended when kids are around seven to ten years old, this proactive approach targets issues like malocclusion (a misalignment of the teeth) early on.
Early treatment can help address malocclusion (misalignment) issues, such as crowding, spacing, crossbite, underbite, open bite, and more, that can lead to the following issues if left unchecked:
- Jaw pain or discomfort
- Trouble chewing, biting, & swallowing
- Difficulty with proper brushing & flossing, increasing the risk of cavities and gum issues
- Uneven wear on certain teeth, potentially causing long-term damage
- Speech difficulties related to tooth & jaw positioning
By intervening early, we can use treatments such as a palatal expander and braces to create a more favorable environment for permanent teeth.
How Do The Teeth And Jaws Affect Breathing?
Teeth and jaws play a significant role in how well you breathe. If your child has a misplaced lower jaw, a narrow upper jaw, or crowded teeth, it reduces the space inside the mouth where the tongue should rest. When the tongue can’t sit in the right spot, it may fall back toward the throat and block part of the airway. That’s when mouth breathing or snoring can start.
A narrow upper jaw can make it harder to breathe through the nose by reducing the space inside the nasal passages, restricting proper airflow. This is another instance in which your child may have to naturally rely more on mouth breathing.
Why Breathing Matters In Childhood
You might be wondering, “Why does it matter whether my child breathes through their nose or mouth?” Unfortunately, this seemingly small trait or habit can have major consequences.
- Respiratory Health: Nasal breathing is the body’s natural way of taking in air. The nose filters, humidifies and warms the air before it reaches the lungs, supporting overall respiratory health. Mouth breathing, on the other hand, bypasses these benefits and can lead to a variety of issues over time.
- Oral Health: Breathing through the mouth causes dryness, which reduces saliva production. Since saliva helps wash away bacteria and neutralize acids, a dry mouth increases the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. As your child ages, this can lead to cavities, inflamed gums, and other dental problems that require treatment.
- Sleep Quality: When a child breathes through their mouth at night, their airway may not be as open as it should be, leading to snoring or even pauses in breathing. This can cause restless sleep, daytime drowsiness, and difficulty focusing at school. Poor sleep can also affect mood, energy levels, and overall well-being.
- Facial & Jaw Development: Mouth breathing causes the tongue to sit lower than it should, preventing it from supporting the proper growth of the upper jaw. This can result in a long, narrow face, narrow nostrils, a recessed chin, or misaligned teeth.
- Mental Health: Oxygen plays a key role in brain function, and children with chronic mouth breathing or disrupted sleep may have a higher risk of mood imbalances, difficulty concentrating, and increased stress levels. Additionally, mouth breathing can contribute to changes in facial structure, persistent bad breath, or speech differences, which may affect a child’s confidence and social interactions.
How Does Phase 1 Improve Breathing?
Phase 1 orthodontic treatment helps Naperville and Wheaton children by guiding the development of the jaws and teeth while they are still growing. Since the bones are more adaptable at a young age, we use specialized appliances to create space, improve alignment, and support better airflow.
One of the most common tools in Phase 1 treatment is the palatal expander, a device that fits on the upper molars and gradually widens the upper jaw. Expansion happens in small increments—usually by turning a key that slightly adjusts the device daily. Over time, this enlarges the dental arch and increases the size of the nasal passages, making nasal breathing easier. The expander is typically worn for several months, with stabilization afterward to maintain the results.
Other orthodontic tools, such as braces, are used to help create more space for incoming permanent teeth and improve airway space.
Since every child’s needs differ, their treatment plan is customized based on their jaw structure, dental alignment, and breathing patterns.
Benefits of Phase 1 Treatment For Breathing
Addressing airway and jaw development issues early through Phase 1 orthodontic treatment can have significant long-term benefits.
- More Efficient: Since a child’s bones are still growing, treatment is often easier, more effective, and more comfortable compared to waiting until adulthood, when the bones have hardened and may require more extensive intervention.
- Supports Balanced Facial Growth: Proper jaw development can help maintain natural proportions in the face and prevent structural changes linked to chronic mouth breathing.
- Encourages Healthier Mouth Function: A properly aligned jaw and bite make it easier for the tongue to rest in the right position, supporting better airflow and reducing reliance on mouth breathing.
- Promotes Restful Sleep: Improving jaw position and airway space can help reduce nighttime breathing disruptions like sleep apnea and snoring, leading to deeper, more refreshing sleep.
- Helps Correct Harmful Oral Habits: Early treatment can address tongue thrusting, improper swallowing patterns, and mouth breathing, preventing them from becoming long-term issues.
- Better Oral Health: Straightening teeth and creating proper spacing with Phase 1 treatment makes it easier to brush, floss, and maintain good hygiene. This reduces the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, helping kids keep their smiles healthy.
By addressing these issues early, Phase 1 treatment helps your child grow healthier, feel more confident, and build better lifelong habits. With improved breathing, a consistent sleep routine, better eating habits, and stronger oral hygiene skills, your child can thrive at home, in school, and in everyday life.fe.
Set Your Child Up For Smile Success
At Razi Orthodontics in Naperville and Wheaton, IL, our team specializes in Phase 1 treatment to support proper growth, improve airflow, and create healthier smiles. If your child breathes through their mouth, snores, or has crowding, early care can make a big difference. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Razi today to start your child on the path to better breathing and lifelong oral health.