Ever walked into your kid’s room at night only to find them sprawled out, mouth wide open like a tiny, snoring dragon? While it might sound funny, chronic mouth breathing can actually mess with their sleep, teeth, and even their jaw development. But don’t panic— Healthy Start appliances might be the undercover superheroes your kiddo’s smile needs! These non-invasive trays don’t just straighten teeth–they can also help train your child’s mouth to stay closed, improving breathing, sleep, and overall dental health.
Healthy Start offers a gentle, non-invasive way to guide their teeth and jaw into better alignment, helping to encourage proper nasal breathing. At Dee for Dentist, we use the latest technology to make the process smooth, comfortable, and, dare we say, even fun! Healthy Start allows your child to breathe easier, sleep better, and set the foundation for a healthier smile. Please let us know if you want to correct your child’s mouth breathing in a safe and comfortable environment. We look forward to hearing from you!
How Does Healthy Start Correct Mouth Breathing?
As children grow, their bodies are constantly shifting and changing. Their bodies are made to grow and change, meaning they’re also more receptive to certain treatments than adults. This ability to adapt and change, also called plasticity, means we can guide and correct jaw growth and teeth alignment more easily.
If your child is breathing through their mouth, there’s a strong chance that the body is not giving their jaw and teeth the proper amount of space to develop. With Healthy Start appliances putting constant and gentle pressure on the areas that need adjustment, we can optimize the airway. In particular, we can expand the jaw when we intervene early enough.
With the proper treatment, many kids can reduce mouth breathing and switch to breathing through their nose, which is often associated with more restful sleep, better airway function, and improved facial structure and development. This brings many parents great peace of mind, as they’re making their child’s life healthier and easier in the long term.
Why Does Mouth Breathing Matter?
When someone breathes through their mouth, they are much more likely to experience poor sleep, dry mouth, increased bacteria in the oral cavity, and non-optimal facial development. You’re also much more likely to wet the bed if you’re a mouth breather, explaining why so many of us wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. If you breathe through your nose, your body produces less urine. If your child is wetting the bed, there’s a strong possibility that their mouth breathing is making the problem worse.
When you’re asleep, your mouth creates less saliva than usual. But if you’re breathing through your mouth, the saliva dries up and isn’t able to maintain the oral cavity. It’s drier, allows bacteria to grow, and alters the healthy pH. These issues are far less prominent if you can breathe through your nose at night. In short, mouth breathing isn’t the best way to breathe when you sleep. It’s often a sign of allergies, jaw development issues, and other nasal blockages.
Benefits of Choosing Healthy Start to Correct Child Mouth Breathing
Working with a dental provider is an excellent step to ensure your kiddo is set up for restful sleep and healthy development. Getting Healthy Start Myofunctional Therapy can have the following advantages for your child:
- Better quality sleep
- More energy
- Boost in confidence due to a straighter smile
- Does not require machines or other invasive treatment
- Healthier bite
- Less risk of dental issues, including bacterial infections and cavities from dry mouth
- Properly developed facial structure, including less risk of long-face syndrome or recessed chin
- Discreet compared to other treatment options
If you’re interested in helping your child breathe better, we encourage you to reach out to the providers at Dee for Dentist. Our whole team is dedicated to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for each of our patients, including children. Our airway dentists and specialists are prepared to set your kids up for success so you no longer have to hear the snoring dragon through your bedroom walls. Instead, your kids can breathe better and feel rested and energized.
Helping Your Child Breathe & Smile with Confidence
Mouth breathing may seem harmless, but it can affect your child’s health, sleep, and overall development in unexpected ways. At Dee for Dentist, we take a proactive approach to helping kids breathe better using clear aligners—a comfortable, noninvasive solution that supports proper jaw growth and nasal breathing. Our advanced technology and expert team make the process smooth and stress-free, giving your child a healthier, brighter future.
Schedule an appointment today if you’re ready to explore how clear aligners can help! Call us at (702) 586-7800 for Silverado Ranch or (702) 870-3818 for the Medical District, or visit our contact form to get started.
