Breathing is an innate and vital function in humans. Normal breathing, also called nasal breathing, is when air is inhaled and exhaled through the nose, keeping the mouth closed. Mouth or mixed breathing can cause oral and systemic problems for those who experience it. Mouth breathing constitutes a syndrome called "Mouth Breathing Syndrome," which can be diagnosed due to obstructive, anatomical, or habitual causes. The repercussions are varied: it alters the shape of the palate, body balance, speech articulation, swallowing pattern, feeding, and other functions.
Mouth breathing in children and adolescents leads to postural alterations such as thoracic hyperkyphosis, shoulder protrusion, scapular elevation and abduction, and forward head posture. Furthermore, the accentuated curvature of the thoracic spine, the forward shoulder position, and the elevation and separation of the scapulae cause changes in body balance, resulting in increased lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt to compensate for the postural imbalance. .
Based on comparative studies, the authors demonstrate a positive association between abnormal head posture (forward head posture) and a predominance of mouth breathing. Persistent mouth breathing alters the biomechanics of the stomatognathic system muscles. Maintaining balance and stability in children is challenging due to the disproportionate size of the head relative to the body. Furthermore, during pre-adolescence and adolescence, postural adjustments are necessary to achieve balance compatible with changes in body proportions and the increased range of motion.
Mouth and/or mixed breathing is associated with changes in posture, eating habits, the sleep-wake cycle, behavior, and physical and intellectual performance in children and adolescents. Chronic postural problems are difficult to correct over time, affecting the musculoskeletal system involved in body posture. This coincides with repercussions on functions of the stomatognathic system, such as chewing, swallowing, speech, taste, smell, and tongue and jaw posture, among others.
It is essential to detect early signs and symptoms of the so-called "Mouth Breathing Syndrome" in order to provide re-education and apply preventive measures along with coordinated and comprehensive multidisciplinary care for children and adolescents.
At Midsa we specialize in treating this condition using the Aragao Function Regulator (RFA) technique. This treatment reaches all parts of the human body starting from the mouth, integrating the functions of the brainstem nerves, such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, smell, taste, hearing, balance, and vision.
