Why oral habits are worth noticing

Your child’s breathing, swallowing and the position of the tongue and lips are habits built up little by little. If some habits last for a long time, they may affect growth. This article introduces common oral habits and when it is worth asking a clinician.

Common oral habits

• Mouth breathing: the mouth is often open, day or night.
• Low tongue posture: at rest, the tongue does not lightly touch the palate.
• Tongue pushing forward when swallowing: the tongue presses on the front teeth when swallowing saliva or food.
• Lip or nail biting, thumb sucking.
• Open-mouth sleeping, snoring, teeth grinding.

For a fuller list, try the breathing self-check on the homepage.

What these habits may affect

Children are still growing, and their teeth, gums and facial bones are influenced by the force of the lip, tongue and cheek muscles. When a habit lasts a long time, the following may occur:

• Tooth alignment and bite: for example crowding, protruding front teeth, or upper and lower teeth that do not meet.
• Facial and jaw development: in some children the face shape or jaw position may be affected.
• Sleep quality: snoring and light sleep, with tiredness in the daytime.
• Concentration and mood: when sleep is poor, it is harder to concentrate in the day and moods swing more easily.
• Posture: a forward head position, rounded shoulders.

Please note that not every child will be affected, and how much varies from child to child.

What parents can do

• Watch whether your child’s mouth is often open when quiet.
• If several signs apply, or you are concerned, ask a dentist or ENT clinician to assess. A blocked nose should be dealt with first.
• There is no need to worry too much. Noticing early and asking a clinician early usually makes things easier to handle calmly.

→ What is myofunctional training?

This page is for general health education and does not replace a clinician’s diagnosis or advice. Please use HIKARI as directed by your clinician.