Mouth breathing: Adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior: Yosh Jefferson, DMD, MAGD
The importance of facial appearances in contemporary society is undeniable. Many studies have shown that individuals with attractive facial features are more readily accepted than those with unattractive facial features, providing them with significant advantages.
A note from Yosh Jefferson, DMD, MAGD
The vast majority of health care professionals are unaware of the negative impact of upper airway obstruction (mouth breathing) on normal facial growth and physiologic health. Children whose mouth breathing is untreated may develop long, narrow faces, narrow mouths, high palatal vaults, dental malocclusion, gummy smiles, and many other unattractive facial features, such as skeletal Class II or Class III facial profiles. These children do not sleep well at night due to obstructed airways; this lack of sleep can adversely affect their growth and academic performance. Many of these children are misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity.