Mouth breathing is often underestimated, yet it can have significant effects on a child’s overall development. Beyond dental health and facial growth, habitual mouth breathing disrupts vital functions such as sleep, cognitive development, emotional regulation, and academic performance.
In our complete guide on how myofunctional therapy helps correct mouth breathing, we explore the broader health consequences of dysfunctional breathing. Here, we focus specifically on how mouth breathing impacts children’s sleep quality, behaviour, and learning — and what parents can do to help.
Why mouth breathing matters
Breathing through the nose is the body’s natural and most efficient method of respiration.
Nasal breathing acts as a vital filtration system, trapping allergens, pollutants, and pathogens before they reach the lungs. It also regulates the humidity and temperature of inhaled air, protecting the respiratory system and supporting immune function. Furthermore, nasal breathing enhances oxygen uptake through the production of nitric oxide, a powerful molecule that improves blood oxygenation.
Beyond these physiological advantages, nasal breathing plays a crucial role in proper facial growth and airway development during childhood. When children habitually breathe through their mouths, these benefits are lost. Instead, they risk triggering a cascade of developmental, behavioural, and cognitive challenges that can affect their quality of life into adulthood.
How mouth breathing disrupts sleep
Mouth breathing significantly disrupts the quality of sleep in children.
Children who breathe through their mouths at night are more likely to experience fragmented and unrestorative sleep, which can interfere with critical developmental processes in the brain.
Instead of deep, restful sleep, mouth breathing leads to frequent arousals, snoring, and noisy breathing, preventing the brain and body from achieving vital REM and slow-wave sleep stages.
Children often wake with a dry mouth, sore throat, or complaints of feeling thirsty during the night.
Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) has also been linked to disturbed sleep caused by airway obstruction.
Research by Valcheva et al. (2018) highlights that poor oxygenation during sleep directly impairs neurological development, emotional stability, and growth hormone production.
Sleep apnoea and mouth breathing
Habitual mouth breathing is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in children.
OSA occurs when airway muscles relax excessively during sleep, causing intermittent blockages that disrupt normal breathing patterns. These breathing stoppages can significantly lower oxygen levels in the blood, strain the cardiovascular system, and trigger frequent awakenings.
Children with sleep apnoea often exhibit excessive daytime sleepiness, shortened attention spans, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, and even slowed growth due to reduced secretion of growth hormones during disturbed sleep cycles.
By addressing mouth breathing early, parents can significantly reduce the likelihood of their child developing sleep-disordered breathing conditions such as OSA.
Behavioural and emotional impacts of mouth breathing
The connection between mouth breathing, poor sleep, and behavioural challenges is profound.
When a child consistently experiences disrupted sleep, the brain’s ability to regulate emotions and manage behaviour deteriorates.
Irritability becomes common, and children may find it difficult to manage frustration, leading to emotional outbursts and oppositional behaviour. Some children become overly aggressive, while others may display withdrawal and sadness.
Difficulty sustaining attention is another hallmark symptom.
Children may fidget excessively, struggle to stay on task, or seem defiant simply because they are overwhelmed by fatigue and emotional dysregulation.
Research by Kalaskar et al. (2021) supports that many of the behaviours often diagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are, in fact, secondary to untreated sleep disturbances caused by mouth breathing.
The ADHD and sleep link
Several studies, including the pivotal work of Kuroishi et al. (2014), have documented the strong association between sleep-disordered breathing and ADHD-like symptoms.
When sleep quality improves through airway correction and breathing retraining, many children previously diagnosed with ADHD show significant reductions in hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention difficulties — often without the need for medication.
This underscores the importance of airway and sleep assessments for any child displaying new or worsening behavioural symptoms.
Cognitive and academic effects of mouth breathing
The consequences of mouth breathing extend beyond behaviour into fundamental areas of cognitive and academic development.
During sleep, the brain consolidates information learned during the day, builds neural connections, and regulates the neurotransmitters necessary for concentration and memory.
When oxygen supply is compromised by mouth breathing during sleep, these vital processes are disrupted.
Children often experience difficulties with working memory, leading to challenges in remembering instructions, completing tasks, and applying learning across subjects.
Their attention spans may shorten, and their processing speed — the ability to understand and respond to information — may slow down.
Findings from the São Paulo Medical Journal (Kuroishi et al., 2014) revealed that children with mouth breathing syndrome scored significantly lower in reading comprehension, arithmetic skills, and working memory compared to their nose-breathing peers.
Over time, these academic struggles can erode a child’s confidence and enjoyment of learning, creating further barriers to educational success.
The bigger picture
Unchecked, mouth breathing can initiate a downward spiral for children. Poor sleep leads to behavioural challenges, emotional difficulties, and impaired learning. These, in turn, affect self-esteem, social relationships, and long-term mental health.
By recognising and correcting mouth breathing early, parents can protect their child’s developmental trajectory, giving them the best possible chance at academic and emotional success.
Early signs parents should watch for
Early detection is crucial to preventing the long-term consequences of mouth breathing.
Parents should watch for subtle but important signs such as their child sleeping with an open mouth or snoring regularly.
Restless tossing and turning during the night, teeth grinding (bruxism), or persistent bedwetting beyond expected developmental stages can also indicate disrupted breathing during sleep.
Morning symptoms such as waking tired despite sufficient sleep, difficulty concentrating in school, frequent sore throats, bad breath, and repeated throat infections are also red flags.
Parents may also notice poor posture, including forward head tilt, as the body unconsciously tries to open the airway.
If several of these symptoms are present, a professional evaluation is strongly recommended.
How myofunctional therapy helps
Myofunctional therapy offers a structured, non-invasive solution to the root causes of mouth breathing.
Rather than simply treating the symptoms, this therapy retrains the muscles involved in breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking to support proper oral function and airway health.
One critical element is nasal breathing retraining. Through carefully designed exercises, children learn to establish and maintain healthy breathing patterns through their nose during both wakefulness and sleep.
Another vital focus is tongue posture correction.
Children are taught to position their tongue gently but firmly against the roof of the mouth. This action not only encourages nasal breathing but also supports proper facial growth and prevents further airway narrowing (Lin et al., 2022).
Lip sealing techniques are introduced to strengthen the muscles around the mouth, promoting a closed-lip resting posture that discourages mouth breathing.
Additionally, swallowing re-education is provided, correcting dysfunctional patterns such as tongue thrusting that can exacerbate mouth breathing tendencies.
By consistently performing these exercises, children build the muscular strength and coordination needed to support a stable, open airway — improving sleep quality, emotional regulation, and cognitive functioning without invasive medical interventions.
In many cases, early myofunctional therapy can even prevent the need for orthodontic corrections or sleep apnoea treatments later in life.
When to seek professional help
It is essential to seek professional support when signs of mouth breathing are persistent and impacting a child’s daily life.
If your child habitually breathes through their mouth during the day or night, snores, shows frequent fatigue, struggles academically, or displays orthodontic signs like crowded teeth or a narrow palate, a comprehensive airway evaluation is recommended.
At Breathe First, we specialise in early identification and correction of airway dysfunctions through tailored myofunctional therapy programmes.
Our expert team works closely with families to create personalised treatment plans, giving children the best opportunity for healthy breathing, sound sleep, and thriving development.
Long-term benefits of correcting mouth breathing
Addressing mouth breathing early offers a lifetime of benefits across all areas of a child’s growth:
Children who learn to breathe correctly through their nose enjoy consistent, deep sleep cycles essential for brain development, hormone regulation, and immune health.
They demonstrate stronger emotional resilience, with better ability to manage frustration, focus attention, and interact socially.
Cognitive skills such as memory, learning capacity, and information processing sharpen, leading to improved academic performance.
From a physical perspective, healthy nasal breathing supports proper jaw and facial structure development, reducing the risk of dental crowding, speech difficulties, and orthodontic issues later in life.
Emotionally, children gain greater self-confidence and social engagement, fostering resilience and a positive outlook as they grow.
Ultimately, correcting mouth breathing lays the foundation for better health, stronger academic achievement, and a higher quality of life well into adulthood.
Take action today
Mouth breathing may seem like a minor habit, but its effects on sleep, behaviour, and learning are anything but small.
Early intervention makes an enormous difference, helping children unlock their full potential across every aspect of their development.
✅ Contact Breathe First today to schedule a comprehensive airway assessment and myofunctional therapy consultation.
✅ Empower your child to breathe better, sleep soundly, focus sharper, and step confidently into their brightest future.
➡️ Related articles:
- The hidden dangers of mouth breathing in children: Early signs every parent should know
- Myofunctional therapy exercises you can start at home
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering how mouth breathing could be affecting your child’s sleep, behaviour, and learning, you’re not alone.
Below, we answer some of the most common questions parents ask about this important issue.
How does mouth breathing affect children’s sleep?
Mouth breathing during sleep reduces oxygen intake and increases the likelihood of snoring, restless movements, and sleep apnoea. This fragmented sleep disrupts brain development, emotional regulation, and physical growth.
Can mouth breathing cause behavioural problems?
Yes. Chronic mouth breathing can cause sleep deprivation, leading to daytime irritability, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty focusing — symptoms that can mimic ADHD or other behavioural disorders.
How does mouth breathing impact learning?
Sleep-disordered breathing resulting from mouth breathing impairs memory consolidation, attention span, and cognitive processing speed, contributing to learning difficulties and lower academic performance.
Can correcting mouth breathing improve school performance?
Absolutely. Improving airway health and breathing patterns through therapies like myofunctional training can restore quality sleep, boost cognitive function, and enhance a child’s focus, memory, and classroom success.
When should I seek help if I suspect my child is a mouth breather?
Seek professional evaluation if your child frequently breathes through their mouth, snores, wakes feeling tired, struggles academically, or shows signs of dental or orthodontic issues related to narrow airway development.
References
Valcheva, Z., Arnautska, H., & Milkov, M. (2018). Mouth breathing in children and its connection with obstructive sleep apnoea. Bulgarian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 14(1), 32-38. https://journals.mu-varna.bg/index.php/orl/article/view/6782
Kuroishi, R., Garcia, R., Valera, F., Anselmo-Lima, W., & Fukuda, M. (2014). Deficits in working memory, reading comprehension, and arithmetic skills in children with mouth breathing syndrome. São Paulo Medical Journal, 132(2), 78-83. https://www.scielo.br/j/spmj/a/6dK7JcsdpPPK9GgrXxvW5tF/?lang=en
Kalaskar, R., Bhaje, P., Kalaskar, A., & Faye, A. (2021). Sleep difficulties and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with mouth breathing. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 14(5), 604-609. https://www.ijcpd.com/doi/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1987
Lin, L., Zhao, T., Qin, D., Hua, F., & He, H. (2022). The impact of mouth breathing on dentofacial development: A concise review. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.929165/full
