Breathe: Understanding Airway and Oral Development
Breathing is an essential part of healthy growth and development. The way a child breathes can influence oral habits, facial development, and overall function. At The Pediatric Orthodontist, we believe that understanding a child's breathing patterns is an important part of a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation. Dr. Edward Angle said it best" Of all the various causes of malocclusion, mouth breathing is the most potent, constant, and varied in its results!"
Why Breathing Matters
Children who regularly breathe through their mouth may have underlying factors that deserve further evaluation. Airway development, oral posture, jaw growth, and dental development can all be interconnected.
An early orthodontic evaluation provides an opportunity to observe these developing patterns and determine whether additional evaluation or care may be appropriate.