Mouth Breathing and Snoring Aren’t Normal for Kids

If a child snores, breathes loudly, or sleeps with their mouth open, it’s easy to brush it off as “cute” or “just how they sleep.” But snoring and mouth breathing are actually red flags that something is interfering with their airway.

Why It’s Not “Normal”

During deep sleep, children should breathe silently through their nose. Mouth breathing or snoring means the airway isn’t functioning optimally — often due to:

Enlarged tonsils/adenoids
Nasal obstruction
Poor tongue posture or low muscle tone
Jaw development issues

The Consequences of Ignoring It

Chronic mouth breathing can lead to:

Fragmented, low-quality sleep
Daytime fatigue, hyperactivity, or poor focus
Altered facial growth and dental crowding
Speech or swallowing difficulties
Frequent allergies/illness

What to Watch For

Parents and professionals should look for:

Snoring (even light snoring!)
Open-mouth posture
Dark circles under the eyes
Restless sleep
Drooling on the pillow
Teeth grinding

What Helps

An airway-focused evaluation by a myofunctional therapist, dentist, or ENT can identify the root cause.
With early intervention, kids can breathe better, sleep better, and grow better.