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From Blocked Nose to Crooked Teeth: The Link Between Breathing and Jaw Growth

By Sally Howe - Functional Breath Practitioner 

It’s common for children to experience a blocked or stuffy nose from time to time, perhaps from allergies, a cold, or enlarged adenoids. But when nasal congestion becomes chronic, it can have far-reaching consequences that go well beyond temporary discomfort.

Persistent mouth breathing, often a direct result of chronic nasal obstruction, can disrupt normal jaw development, alter facial growth patterns, and even contribute to lifelong issues like crooked teeth, restricted airways, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

Understanding the link between nasal breathing and facial growth is crucial for parents, health professionals, and educators who want to support children’s long-term health and development.

The Importance of Nasal Breathing

The human body is designed to breathe primarily through the nose not the mouth. Nasal breathing filters, warms, and humidifies incoming air, which protects the lungs and optimizes oxygen absorption.

Beyond that, nasal breathing plays an essential role in the proper development of the face and jaw. The tongue, when resting on the palate (roof of the mouth), acts as a natural expander, guiding the upper jaw to grow wide and forward. This growth supports proper alignment of the teeth, adequate space for the tongue, and a stable airway.

When nasal breathing is obstructed, children instinctively shift to mouth breathing. This small adaptation, which might seem harmless at first, triggers a cascade of developmental changes that can affect them for life.

How a Blocked Nose Changes Facial and Jaw Growth

Chronic nasal obstruction can come from allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, sinus infections, or even structural issues like a deviated septum. When the nose remains blocked, the child adapts by keeping their mouth open to breathe.

Over time, this altered breathing pattern changes muscle tone and posture in the face and neck. The consequences include:

1. Low Tongue Posture

When the mouth is open, the tongue cannot rest against the palate. Instead, it sits low in the mouth or on the floor of the mouth. Without the tongue’s gentle upward pressure, the upper jaw (maxilla) doesn’t develop to its full width.

This results in a narrow upper jaw, a high-arched palate, and often crowded teeth. Because the palate also forms the floor of the nasal cavity, a narrow palate further restricts nasal airflow,  worsening the problem in a self-perpetuating cycle.

2. Long-Face Syndrome and Jaw Position

Mouth breathing often leads to what orthodontists and myofunctional therapists call “long-face syndrome.” The facial muscles adapt to the open-mouth posture, causing the lower jaw to hang downward and backward. This leads to:

  • A longer, narrower face

  • A receded chin

  • Drooping cheeks and dark circles under the eyes

  • A smaller airway space

These skeletal changes not only affect appearance but also function — particularly breathing efficiency and oral stability.

3. Altered Bite and Crooked Teeth

Because the jaws don’t grow in the right direction, there’s often not enough room for all the teeth to come in straight. This results in crowded or misaligned teeth, overbites, or crossbites.

Orthodontic treatment may straighten teeth temporarily, but if the underlying cause, mouth breathing,  isn’t corrected, the alignment problems often relapse over time.

4. Restricted Airway Development

A narrow jaw and high palate mean less space for the tongue and reduced airway volume. As the child grows, this can translate to chronic snoring, sleep-disordered breathing, or even obstructive sleep apnea in adolescence or adulthood.

When airway restriction persists, it affects sleep quality, attention, and overall growth. Studies have linked poor nasal breathing and sleep apnea in children to learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and daytime fatigue.

Myofunctional Consequences of Chronic Mouth Breathing

The term myofunctional refers to the muscles and functions of the mouth, face, and tongue. Myofunctional abilities include breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech,  all of which depend on proper muscle balance and tongue posture.

When a child mouth breathes:

  • The lips remain open or weakly sealed.

  • The tongue stays low and inactive.

  • The cheeks and lips overdevelop in compensatory ways.

  • The swallow pattern becomes dysfunctional — often with the tongue thrusting forward.

  • Saliva flow decreases, leading to a dry mouth that increases the risk of tooth decay and cavities. Mouth breathing dries out the oral cavity, reducing saliva’s protective and cleansing effects, which allows cavity-causing bacteria to thrive and acids to erode tooth enamel.

These changes can lead to:

  • Speech difficulties (such as lisping or unclear articulation)

  • Inefficient chewing and swallowing

  • Digestive issues from improper chewing

  • Poor oral rest posture, maintaining the cycle of underdevelopment

Over time, this can even affect head and neck posture, leading to tension, headaches, and TMJ discomfort.

TMJ Problems and Muscle Strain

As facial structures develop in an unbalanced way, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs),  which connect the jaw to the skull — can come under strain. The lower jaw often rotates backward, altering the bite and putting extra pressure on these joints.

Children or teens with this pattern may experience:

  • Jaw clicking or popping

  • Jaw pain or tension

  • Headaches and neck stiffness

  • Difficulty opening or closing the mouth smoothly

If not addressed early, these imbalances can persist into adulthood, contributing to chronic TMJ disorders and facial pain.

Recognising the Signs Early

Parents often don’t realize that something as simple as a “stuffy nose” can alter facial growth. Some early warning signs to look for include:

  • Habitual mouth breathing (especially during sleep)

  • Snoring or noisy breathing at night

  • Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)

  • A long, narrow face or receded chin

  • Lips that stay open at rest

  • Crowded or crooked baby teeth

  • Frequent ear infections or sinus problems

  • Daytime fatigue or difficulty focusing

If you notice several of these signs, it’s worth seeking evaluation from an airway-focused dentist, ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist), or orofacial myofunctional therapist.

Correcting the Cause: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Fortunately, with early intervention, many of these problems can be prevented or reversed. Treatment often requires a team approach:

  • ENT Specialist – to identify and address structural or inflammatory causes of nasal blockage, such as enlarged adenoids, allergies, or deviated septum.

  • Myofunctional Therapist – to retrain proper tongue posture, lip seal, and swallowing patterns through targeted exercises.

  • Myofunctional Dentist – to guide jaw development and ensure sufficient space for teeth and the airway.

  • Allergist or Pediatrician – to manage underlying conditions contributing to chronic congestion.

The goal is to restore nasal breathing, normalise oral posture, and support healthy facial growth before skeletal patterns become fixed.

Long-Term Benefits of Restoring Nasal Breathing

When nasal breathing is reestablished and myofunctional balance is restored, the body begins to self-correct. Children often experience improvements such as:

  • Better sleep quality and daytime focus

  • Enhanced facial symmetry and jaw development

  • Reduced risk of crooked teeth and bite problems

  • Lower risk of cavities and gum issues from improved saliva balance and oral moisture

  • Healthier airway development and breathing patterns

  • Lower incidence of TMJ pain and headaches

The earlier these habits are corrected, the more natural the growth and the more stable the long-term outcomes.

Support for Your Child’s Jaw and Airway Development

If your child struggles with chronic nasal congestion, mouth breathing, or jaw development concerns, early assessment and therapy can make all the difference.

At The Myofunctional Space, based at The Health Lodge, our team of two Myofunctional Dentists and an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist work collaboratively to bring alignment and balance to your child’s developing jaw.

By addressing both the structural and functional causes of mouth breathing and poor oral posture, our integrated approach helps guide natural facial growth, restore healthy breathing patterns, and set your child up for a lifetime of better health and confidence.

 

 

References

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