Mouth breathing: why checking the airway comes first

Yulli Tamayo-Myerson

Oct 9

3 min read

By Yulli Tamayo-Myerson RDHT OMT

Consulting Orofacial Myologist

Registered Dental Hygienist and Therapist

9 October 2026

Persistent mouth breathing deserves assessment. AI-generated illustration

“Why can’t I keep my mouth closed?”

If you breathe through your mouth most of the time, or your child does, you may have been told to “just breathe through your nose”. That advice is frustrating when nasal breathing feels difficult. Persistent mouth breathing deserves a closer look.

Why it happens

There are often two parts to it:

Difficulty breathing through the nose: Allergies or nasal obstruction can block or narrow the nasal passages. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids may also contribute to breathing problems.
A learned pattern: Mouth breathing can become a habit that continues even after nasal breathing becomes easier.

Asking someone to close their lips does not fix an obstructed airway.[1] That is why the cause needs to be identified first.

Why it matters

Breathing through your mouth at night can leave your mouth feeling dry.[5] If you also snore regularly, sleep poorly or wake feeling tired, discuss this with your GP. These can be signs of a sleep-related breathing problem.[4]

In children, guidance from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognises that impaired nasal breathing may contribute to changes in the bite and facial development, although it is not the sole or main cause.[3]

How we approach it

MFT UK is a myofunctional therapy clinic run by registered dental care professionals (DCPs). Our approach has two steps:

Look at the airway first. Our assessment considers how your mouth, tongue and lips function and rest, alongside your breathing concerns. If we suspect nasal obstruction or a sleep-related breathing problem, we will recommend medical assessment through your GP, with ENT or sleep specialist referral where appropriate.
Then retrain the pattern. Once airway barriers have been addressed, myofunctional therapy uses tailored exercises and practice to help your lips rest gently closed, improve tongue resting posture and encourage nasal breathing. You practise at home, with guidance and review from your therapist.[1]

Depending on your needs, care may involve your GP, ENT specialist or dentist alongside your myofunctional therapist.[1,3]

Airway assessment and tailored functional therapy may need coordinated care. AI-generated illustration

What does the evidence say?

Once you can breathe comfortably through your nose, myofunctional therapy may help you change a mouth-breathing habit. The research is promising, and stronger studies are still needed to show which approaches work best and for whom.[2]

Professional guidance recommends addressing airway barriers before working on closed-mouth posture.[1]

🚩 Signs to discuss with a clinician

In adults [1,4]

Persistent mouth breathing or difficulty breathing comfortably through the nose.
Regular loud snoring.
Ongoing daytime tiredness alongside disturbed sleep.

In children [1,6]

Frequently resting with the mouth open or breathing through the mouth.
Regular snoring at night.
Disrupted sleep, tiredness or difficulty concentrating during the day.

These signs do not confirm a diagnosis, but they are worth discussing.

Breathing pauses or gasping during sleep need GP assessment, at any age.[4,6] Do not wait for a MYOCALL before seeking medical advice about these symptoms.

Need help finding the right pathway?

A MYOCALL is a 30-minute video consultation with me, Yulli Tamayo-Myerson, to discuss your concerns and whether medical assessment or myofunctional therapy may be the next step.

To book, email info@mftuk.uk.

The goal is comfortable breathing and a treatment plan based on your individual needs.