Most parents in Kannur notice small things first — a child who sleeps with their mouth open, snores lightly, or still sucks their thumb well past toddlerhood. These are usually dismissed as habits the child will “grow out of.” In reality, these three habits — mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking — are among the most common causes of facial and jaw development problems we see in children today.
Why These Habits Matter More Than Parents Realize
The bones of a child’s face are still growing and are highly responsive to muscle pressure — from the tongue, lips, and cheeks. When a habit repeatedly applies the wrong kind of pressure, the growing bone follows that pressure. This is not a cosmetic issue alone; it affects breathing, sleep, speech, and long-term jaw alignment.
Mouth breathing happens when a child habitually breathes through the mouth instead of the nose, often due to blocked nasal passages, enlarged adenoids, or simple habit. Over time, this can lead to a long, narrow face, a high-arched palate, and a forward head posture.
Tongue thrusting is when the tongue pushes forward against or between the teeth during swallowing or at rest, instead of resting on the roof of the mouth. This constant forward pressure can push the front teeth outward, creating an open bite where the upper and lower front teeth don’t meet.
Thumb sucking, when it continues past age 3-4, applies steady pressure that narrows the upper jaw and pushes front teeth forward, sometimes creating a visible gap even after the habit stops.
Kannur’s Monsoon Season Makes This Worse
One local factor we see often at our South Bazar clinic: Kannur’s heavy monsoon months (June through August) bring a spike in nasal congestion, allergies, and blocked airways in children. A child who can’t breathe through a stuffy nose switches to mouth breathing — and if this happens repeatedly through the rainy season, year after year, it becomes a fixed habit rather than a temporary one.
Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For
● Mouth open at rest, even when not sick
● Snoring or restless sleep
● A “long face” appearance or gummy smile developing over time
● Front teeth that don’t close together (open bite)
● Speech difficulties, especially with “s,” “t,” and “d” sounds
● Dark circles under the eyes (common with poor sleep quality from mouth breathing)
● Thumb or finger sucking continuing past age 4
Why Early Correction Matters
The earlier these habits are addressed, the more the jaw can be guided back into normal growth using the body’s own developmental window. Left untreated into the teenage years, correction usually requires more complex orthodontic treatment, and sometimes surgical intervention becomes the only option for severe cases.
This is exactly why we focus on habit interception and myofunctional therapy as a first line of treatment — training the tongue, lips, and breathing pattern to work correctly, rather than just moving teeth after the damage is done.
How We Approach Treatment at Our Clinic
At Dr. Dhanesh’s Kids & Teens Dental Care, our approach includes:
● A detailed habit and airway screening as part of every child’s checkup
● Myofunctional therapy exercises to retrain tongue posture and swallowing pattern
● Habit-breaking appliances where needed, tailored to the child’s age and habit severity
● Coordination with an ENT specialist when nasal blockage is the root cause of mouth breathing
● Myobrace treatment for children whose jaw growth needs active guidance (more on this in our next blog)
What Parents Can Do Right Now
If your child shows any of the warning signs above, the most useful first step is a proper screening — not a wait-and-watch approach. Many parents are surprised to learn that some habits, if caught between ages 4-8, can be corrected with simple appliances and exercises, avoiding years of orthodontic treatment later.
Visit Us
Dr. Dhanesh’s Kids & Teens Dental Care
Ayadathil Mukundan Road, Near Fathima Hospital, South Bazar, Kannur 670002
📞 097781 23124
This blog is for general awareness and does not replace an in-person dental evaluation. Please consult Dr. Dhanesh’s Kids & Teens Dental Care for a personalized assessment of your child’s habits and jaw development.
