of children are consistently reported across various studies as being mouth breathers. The wide range of results is because the definition of "chronic" or "habitual" mouth breathing still differs across studies.
Every child's face is designed for 3D symmetry, nose breathing, and natural confidence
Keep that growth on track by avoiding a few small habits along the way
Most people assume it is just genetics. But it is not entirely so
Poise, balanced behaviour
Good eyesight
Facial symmetry, 3D face
Less ear, nose, airway infection
Good sleep, growth and learning
No TMJ, tinnitus problems in the future
No oropharyngeal crowding, nasal breathing
Good posture
Baby
Protect the natural tongue-to-palate reflex (the the correct oral posture):
- breast feed as much as possible
- avoid formulas with sugar
- steer clear of pacifiers, etc. in the mouth
- gently close the lips each time after feeding or during sleep
- help decongest a clogged-up nose if necessary
- keep as much close contact as possible
Toddler
Ensure the natural oral posture is sustained (lips closed, tongue rests on the palate)
- avoid, sippy cups, straws etc.
- discourage thumb sucking
- gently close the lips if they are open
- spoon feed correctly (from the side)
- encourage chewing: let gnaw and experiment with harder texture food
Early/middle childhood
Stress the importance of exclusive nose breathing — even in sports
Encourage thorough chewing, slow eating without distractions
Uphold the the correct oral posture (lips sealed, tongue on the roof of the mouth at rest)
Emphasise abundant sleep
Young teens
Explain that the open-mouth fashion industry pose is not something to be adopted
Let chew as much as possible - ensure hard texture food is always within reach
Let sleep as much as possible
Preventing suboptimal facial growth is simple, yet modern life makes it rare
A gradual loss of traditional wisdom and a shift in modern cultural norms have left countless children touched by the long-face growth pattern. And from every angle, the numbers below reveal just how far-reaching it truly is.
0
0
is the higher estimate of prevalence of crowded teeth among children.
0
of children under 5 are not getting enough sleep. In the U.S. alone, about 70-78% of high school students report not getting the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep on an average school night
0
to as much as 80% of children between 4 and 6 retain the “infantile” (or visceral) swallowing pattern - an abnormality frequently associated with pathological oral posture (the tongue low in the mouth), mouth breathing, and later TMJ problems
0
of children with OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) display AHDH (attention deficits) symptoms.
And, conversely, studies show a significantly higher prevalence of OSA in children with ADHD (estimates range from 20% to 30% or more) compared to the general paediatric population (around 1-4%).
0
or more is the higher range of reports of forward head posture adolescents (kyphotic head posture) in children and. In ages 12-16 it has been found to be 21.28% to 73%. The variations in reported prevalence stem from ongoing lack of uniform methodology and criteria.
Be the parent who grows a child without the Long Face Syndrome
Early signs to watch out for
Just in case check from time to time
1
MOUTH OPEN AT REST
The lips are apart when not talking or eating, (at play, when watching something, when thinking, etc.)
The lips don't automatically close after a sentence is spoken.
May have difficulty keeping their lips closed without strain (lip incompetence)
Lps that are often dry or chapped.
The lips are apart when not talking or eating, (at play, when watching something, when thinking, etc.)
The lips don't automatically close after a sentence is spoken.
May have difficulty keeping their lips closed without strain (lip incompetence)
Lps that are often dry or chapped.
2
SLEEP
Sleeps with the mouth open
Sleeps with the head is tilted backwards, the neck extended or head propped up high backwards on the pillows
Snores, snorts, gasps, or makes choking sounds, pauses in breath
Sleeps restless, kicks around the covers.
Accidents are frequent: nighttime sweats, bed wetting (particularly if it starts after a long period of dry overnights).
3
CHEWING
Eats quickly: gulps down food. Those are signs that attentive eating habit - to chew each bite of food 20 times is not well in place. (It is not so much hard foods as the time and amount of chewing that is important for good facial development.)
Is chewing with mouth open and loud smacking sounds,
4
SMILE AND TEETH
There are no gaps between deciduous (baby) teeth. (No gaps are an early indicator of improper jaw growth).
The teeth are crowded
There is the beginning of excessive gum show (’gummy smile’)
5
HOW FACE MOVES WHEN SWALLOWING
Swallows with the engagement of chin and cheeks (making grimaces):
- a noticeable wrinkling, dimpling, or bunching of the chin. (This happens because the lip and chin muscles to are used to create the necessary anterior seal that a properly positioned tongue would normally provide).
- there might be a general facial grimace where the lips are tight and the corners of the mouth turn downward, as the perioral muscles (around the mouth) contract excessively to compensate for the tongue's forward push.
6
POSTURE
Changes in posture:
- rounded shoulders
- a forward head position (the 'tech neck')
- chin tilted upward to open the airspace in the neck
7
DAYTIME BEHAVIOUR
More hyperactivity, irritability, aggression, or mood swings (these symptoms are often misdiagnosed as ADHD)
Poorer school performance
The subtle, widespread developmental condition with broad impacts has strong potential for prevention
See our Parent's Guide below
0 - 25 years
Timeline: Before You Even Notice
The truth is, the long-face pattern can start far earlier than anyone expects. Sometimes as early as infancy.
But here’s the part we love: when caught early, it’s incredibly easy to redirect with just a few simple, everyday habits.
Infancy
(0-2 years)
While structural elongation may not be immediately obvious at birth (unless a severe genetic or congenital anomaly), the spiral of wrong oral posture, lack of chewing, and mouth breathing often begin here.
Infancy Early Childhood
(3-5 years)
About 60% of future facial growth is set by 5. If wrong oral habits persist (or appear), the narrowing of the upper jaw and the downward and backward rotation of the lower jaw begin to subtly take hold.
Tonsils and adenoids are growing at this age, but in an already narrowed airway their natural enlargement adds to crowding and encourages mouth breathing.
Middle Childhood
(6-12 years)
Facial elongation becomes more noticeable, as do associated lip incompetence, gummy smile, crowded teeth. The crowding within the nasal cavity, the palate shape and altered bone support for the eye are less obvious to an untrained eye. Shallow breathing and sleep apnea at this age are also harder to detect.
Adolescence
(13 - 18 years)
By 12 about 90% of facial growth is complete. If already present, the long face look and crowding become more pronounced.
Early adulthood
(19 - 25)
Vertical growth slows but certain parts of the face, such as the nose and jaw, continue changing. The features appear more prominent compared to the softer lines of younger adolescents. Dental crowding may be corrected, but oropharyngeal crowding less so.
Images credits: Wikipedia. CC, Otherwise all our images are AI generated to protect privacy.