Mouth Breathing Treatment in Kent and Sammamish
Chronic mouth breathing changes how a child’s face, jaws, and sleep develop. Dr. Freelove screens the airway of every new patient, with an iCat 3D scan analyzed with Invivo software when clinically indicated, and treats the structural causes with expansion, MARPE, and coordinated specialist care.
Reviewed and approved by Dr. Cameron Freelove, DDS, MS · Last updated
Why Mouth Breathing Matters
Nasal breathing filters, warms, and humidifies air, and it keeps the tongue resting against the roof of the mouth, where it acts as a natural scaffold for upper jaw growth. When a child habitually breathes through the mouth, the tongue drops away from the palate, and the upper jaw can grow narrow and high instead of broad and flat.
Mouth breathing is a symptom with several possible causes: enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, a narrow upper jaw, or simple habit. The structural causes sit squarely in orthodontic territory, which is why an airway-focused orthodontic evaluation matters and why treating only the habit often fails.
At Freelove Orthodontics the airway is not an optional add-on. Every new patient is screened for airway concerns, and, when clinically indicated, the CBCT scan is analyzed for airway volume before treatment planning begins.
Signs Your Child May Be a Mouth Breather
The Vicious Cycle: Mouth Breathing → Narrow Palate → More Mouth Breathing
Mouth breathing and a narrow palate feed each other. The roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nose, so a narrow, high palate means a narrower nasal passage. Narrower nasal passages make nasal breathing harder, which keeps the mouth open, which keeps the tongue off the palate, which lets the palate stay narrow. Left alone, the cycle reinforces itself through the growth years.
Orthodontic expansion is the structural way to interrupt that loop. Widening the upper jaw with a palatal expander also widens the nasal floor, and for teens and adults Dr. Freelove offers MARPE, skeletal expansion anchored on mini-screws he places in-office. When the habit outlives the structural fix, myofunctional therapy retrains tongue posture and lip seal.
Airway Screening at Every New-Patient Consultation
Every new patient receives airway screening as part of the initial evaluation. The medical questionnaire includes airway-related questions covering mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep quality, and, when clinically indicated, the CBCT scan is analyzed for airway volume with Invivo software. When concerns are identified, Dr. Freelove asks additional questions and coordinates with specialists such as an ENT, oral surgeon, or myofunctional therapist.
How Dr. Freelove Treats the Structural Causes
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Airway Assessment at Consultation
Dr. Freelove evaluates airway indicators clinically and via imaging when indicated.
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ENT Coordination (If Needed)
If the scan shows enlarged adenoids or significant tonsillar hypertrophy, Dr. Freelove refers to an ENT. Many children benefit from a combined approach: ENT treatment first, then expansion.
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Palatal Expansion
Palatal expansion widens the upper jaw, simultaneously creating room for crowded teeth and widening the nasal floor. For children ages 7–12: RPE. For teens and adults: MARPE (mini-screw assisted expansion). Dr. Freelove performs MARPE in-office.
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Myofunctional Therapy (When Indicated)
If the habit persists after structural correction, exercises retrain tongue posture, lip seal, and nasal breathing patterns. Dr. Freelove can refer to a certified myofunctional therapist.
What Chronic Mouth Breathing Changes in a Growing Child
Facial growth. Chronic mouth breathing is associated with a long, narrow facial growth pattern: a high palate, a recessed chin, and lips that rest apart. The earlier the pattern is caught, the more of that growth can be redirected.
Dental effects. A narrow upper arch leaves less room for erupting teeth, contributing to crowding and crossbite. A constantly dry mouth also loses the protective effect of saliva, which is associated with gum inflammation and higher cavity risk.
Sleep and daytime function. Restricted nasal breathing is associated with snoring and fragmented sleep, and tired children often show up as inattentive or irritable during the day rather than sleepy. A sleep history is part of every new-patient evaluation at Freelove Orthodontics for exactly this reason.
How Freelove Approaches Airway-Focused Treatment
Airway analysis is built into the practice’s diagnostic workflow, not bolted on. Every new patient answers airway-related questions covering mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep quality, and, when clinically indicated, the iCat CBCT scan is analyzed with Invivo software, including a volumetric assessment of the airway.
Dr. Freelove’s stance on early treatment follows the findings, not a formula. Phase 1 treatment is indicated when maxillary development is inadequate for the airway, for crossbite, for habit correction, and in conjunction with myofunctional therapy for proper tongue function. Trained at USC with an emphasis on craniofacial biology, he evaluates the whole face, including airway impact, before making treatment decisions such as extractions.
When findings fall outside orthodontics, the practice coordinates with local ENTs for airway and sleep-disordered breathing evaluations and with myofunctional therapy providers when tongue posture or airway-related habits warrant interdisciplinary support.
Typical Treatment Timeline
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Consultation & airway screening
1 visit
Clinical exam
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ENT consult (if indicated)
Parallel
Adenoid/tonsil evaluation
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Phase 1 expansion
Active: 1–3 months; retention 4–6 months
RPE or MARPE widens jaw and nasal floor
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Phase 2 orthodontics
12–24 months
Braces or aligners if malocclusion remains
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Myofunctional retraining
Varies
If lip/tongue habits persist after structural fix
What to Expect at Your Consultation
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Digital intake
Sleep history (snoring, mouth open at night, bedwetting), daytime fatigue, allergies, ADHD history.
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Comprehensive records
Digital scan, clinical photos, facial analysis.
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Diagnosis with Dr. Freelove
Structural causes identified; ENT needs flagged.
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Treatment plan
Expansion timing, ENT coordination if needed, myofunctional therapy referral if indicated.
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Exact pricing
Insurance (medical for airway, dental for orthodontics), financing, discounts.
Treatment Examples
See more airway cases in our treated cases gallery.
How Much Does Airway-Focused Treatment Cost?
Palatal expansion (Phase 1): From $3,500 depending on type
Comprehensive braces: from $5,000
Clear ceramic braces: from $5,000
Angel Aligners: from $5,000
Invisalign: from $5,000
Expansion often covered when medically necessary.
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Common Appliances Used at Freelove
For growing children, a palatal expander widens the upper jaw and the nasal floor together; at Freelove Orthodontics, digital scanning has replaced goopy impressions for expander workflows. For teens and adults, MARPE achieves skeletal expansion after growth: Dr. Freelove places the anchoring mini-screws in-office himself, and the custom appliance is fabricated at a specialized outside laboratory from the patient’s records.
When alignment is still needed after expansion, KLOwen custom digital braces or clear aligners finish the bite, and retainers are made in-house on 3D-printed models to hold the result.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mouth Breathing
When should a child be evaluated for mouth breathing?
Dr. Freelove agrees with the American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation of a first orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7, and sooner if a parent notices snoring, open-mouth sleep, or a constantly open-lip posture. Early evaluation lets structural causes be caught while the upper jaw is still highly responsive to expansion.
Can orthodontic treatment stop mouth breathing?
Orthodontics addresses the structural side: expansion widens the upper jaw and the nasal floor, making nasal breathing physically easier. Results depend on the cause. If enlarged adenoids or tonsils are blocking the airway, Dr. Freelove coordinates with an ENT, and if the open-mouth habit persists after the structure is corrected, myofunctional therapy retrains tongue posture and lip seal.
What does the airway screening include?
Every new patient answers airway-related questions on the medical questionnaire covering mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep quality, and, when clinically indicated, the CBCT scan is analyzed for airway volume with Invivo software. When concerns are identified, Dr. Freelove asks additional questions and coordinates with specialists such as an ENT, oral surgeon, or myofunctional therapist.
Is expansion still possible for teens and adults?
Yes. Once the midpalatal suture matures, a conventional expander alone may not achieve skeletal change, so Dr. Freelove offers MARPE: expansion anchored on mini-screws that he places in-office himself. For patients with a narrow upper jaw, MARPE can provide an alternative to extractions and a structural answer to airway concerns related to a narrow maxilla and nasal breathing.
Is mouth breathing just a bad habit kids grow out of?
Sometimes it is habit, but treating it as harmless risks missing enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, or a narrow upper jaw that will not correct itself. Because the pattern shapes facial growth during childhood, Dr. Freelove screens for the structural causes at every new-patient consultation rather than waiting to see whether the habit fades.
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Concerned About Your Child’s Breathing?
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