The child of 11 months has a constantly open mouth. The child's mouth is constantly open: causes, possible diseases, treatment. What to do

30-03-2008, 03:00

Neurologist, pediatrician, ophthalmologist...:112:
We were examined at the ENT - everything is fine with us, the nasal passages are not narrowed, there are no adenoids,
the nose is clean, the mucosa is not swollen, everything is perfect ...: 005:
The dentist looked at us - the bite is normal, but when closing the mouth, closed teeth,
lips don't close...:016:

What is the problem is not clear ...: 008:
It goes sideways to us - on the street forever with an open mouth - frequent colds, therefore,
while eating, it is inconvenient for the child to close his mouth, he chews like a hamster, and his lips are a tube,
if he doesn’t close his lips, some of the food pops out back ... I used to think that he just eats so carelessly.
Somehow recently I began to pay attention to this, before that my son had a lot of health problems - there were no lips ... :))
When I reprimand him 100 times (especially on the street in the cold), "shut your mouth", he closes his mouth, but it is clear that he has this unnatural state, his facial expression is tense and stupid, and does not last long.
He is already tired of my remarks, he himself just closes his mouth with a scarf or helmet from below.

TO A SPEECH THERAPIST maybe?: 008:

Alena Zhukova

30-03-2008, 03:06

Go to the orthodontist, perhaps cutting the frenulum under the upper and lower lips will improve the situation. We go to Dentideal from MAPO, www.dentideal.ru

30-03-2008, 03:47

I had a case on this subject - I go outside with my boys (they were about two years old then, it was a terribly cold winter). At the entrance are two neighbors (one of them is an ENT doctor). And suddenly I hear behind her back "She has adenoid children, modern mothers do not look after their children at all: wife:".
I pretended not to hear anything. But the second person (the one who is not an ENT) meets us a few days later and reports that an ENT doctor saw you on the street and said that you have terrible adenoids, well, and further, like where your mother is looking, etc. This hurt me very much, since my boys are hardened, their noses are always clean. Well, I suffered about the open mouths of the doctors. So, twins very often have weakness of the facial muscles (a neuropathologist also told me this, and of course, a normal ENT confirmed it). And our mouth was open just like that. Now we are 3, in my opinion it has become better. We have now been assigned a light matrix on the face (this is for speech), with the help of its muscles either relax or tone. So my advice is to a speech therapist and a neurologist. And there is nothing terrible in this, you can still do a facial massage.

30-03-2008, 10:59

The dentist looked at us - the bite is normal, but when the mouth is closed, the teeth are closed, the lips do not close ...: 016:
Our lips are not thin, our mouth is not small.

In theory, the dentist should have seen if it was the bridles.
But I would still start with an orthodontist.
And in general, maybe such a structure of the face? I correctly understood that the lips do not physically close with closed teeth without additional tension?
In any case, a competent orthodontist can recommend who to contact next.

30-03-2008, 11:28

The dentist looked at us more than a year ago, then we didn’t care about this problem (we didn’t notice it), they checked our teeth.
The neurologist looked at us the other day, so she asked what was the matter, advised the ENT to visit.
ENT did not find any problems.
Well, let's go to the orthodontist ...: 008:

30-03-2008, 11:53

I didn’t understand, if the child wants, then consciously he can close his lips?
My son's mouth is also ajar all the time - and this is precisely the weakness of the facial muscles. We do gymnastics, and then I accidentally found out - we went with the eldest to the orthodontist, and the nurse looked at us there and says - her mouth is also open all the time (although this is not so pronounced with her daughter), she told us to buy wooden spatulas or a ruler and train our lips . The teeth are closed, and with the lips (not the teeth) it is necessary to hold the spatula at the beginning across, and then along (i.e. it is full length forward - it’s already harder). And she also said, periodically put glasses of water in front of the child - take water in your mouth and hold it for as long as possible, then spit it out.

31-03-2008, 16:35

My Plato's mouth is constantly open, it can be seen in all the photos. :)
Previously, somehow I did not pay attention, but lately all doctors have paid my attention to this ...: ded:
In general, advise, to whom to go = something with a problem?: 091:
TO A SPEECH THERAPIST maybe?: 008:

Here's the problem we're having... :(

And how are you doing with facial muscles and in general with the tone of facial muscles? If this is the problem, then craniosacral techniques and speech therapy massages could help.

31-03-2008, 23:03

And how are you doing with facial muscles and in general with the tone of facial muscles? If this is the problem, then craniosacral techniques and speech therapy massages could help.

I don’t even know how we are doing with this ...: 005: And how to evaluate this?: 016:
In the last couple of months, I began to notice that when my son is nervous, he does something strange
lips, like a spasm, some corners of his lips diverge and go down, my jaw tenses, and my face unnaturally warps ...: ((as in a smiley, only with an open mouth ....)
What could it possibly be...
He does this when something angers him, surprises him, or if I make a remark to him in a loud voice ...: 005: I'm already afraid to raise my voice ...: 001:

31-03-2008, 23:20

I don't even know how we're doing with it...:005: And how to evaluate it?
She told the neurologist about this, but she did not see any visible problems with us, she even found noticeable improvements - phenibut prescribed to drink for 1.5 months.
In general, I understood one thing - we must first see an orthodontist, apparently, and then a speech therapist ... Right?: 008:

Of course, I'm not a doctor. But the orthodontist is not quite the direction. You have obvious neurological problems. You do not want to consult, perhaps for a fee, but with some good neurologist. You can find reviews about them on the forum. If you have hyperkinesis - this is one thing, if there are other violations, then the recommendations will be different. A speech therapist could help in case of spasm of mimic muscles or myotonus. From my own experience I can say that you cannot trust the opinion of only one doctor. If in doubt, seek help.

01-04-2008, 12:34

From the description it is very difficult to understand what your child looks like. The fact that a competent specialist should look at it is for sure, but in what area? You, as a mother, see for yourself what prevents the lips from closing - the structure of the face, the length of the upper lip, tension / spasm of the facial muscles? Is the child's mouth closed at night in a dream? In a dream, you can connect his lips - are they long enough for free closing? Neurotic grimaces are one thing, physically non-closing lips are another. You should probably start with a competent and attentive pediatrician. You are not observed in IRAV? It would be possible to appear to Klochkova (she is a neurologist) and there is also a speech therapist.

The question of why a child's mouth is constantly open worries many mothers and fathers. After all, caring parents carefully monitor the development of their child, not at all allowing something to happen to their baby. Therefore, with any change in the behavior or development of the baby, they sound the alarm. And it is right.

A frivolous attitude towards your child can lead to serious consequences. For example, a frequent occurrence among young children - a constantly open mouth during wakefulness, may not be a harmless prank, but a serious illness. Let's try to understand the reasons that contribute to this phenomenon.

In some cases, nothing terrible happens if the child forgets to close his mouth. This may be a common habit when a baby has been walking around with a pacifier in its mouth for a long time, and has recently been deprived of this pleasure. If parents observe that after a long period their child still does not close his mouth, then it is not a matter of habit - here the reason is completely different.

ENT diseases

ENT diseases are a common reason why a child's mouth is constantly open.

Difficulty breathing through the nose can be triggered by diseases such as sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis, nasal polyps or adenoids. Parents should especially think about adenoids, since almost every third child faces this problem. When they occur, swelling of the nasal mucosa occurs, or they partially block the nasal passages, which makes it difficult for the child to breathe and even speak clearly. In a dream, such children also do not close their lips, their breathing is heavy, their sleep is interrupted. They often wake up at night, as the body does not have enough air.

Normal breathing, in addition, is difficult in sinusitis, when the paranasal sinuses are inflamed due to a prolonged runny nose or other infectious diseases. Human organs are designed so that the incoming cold air passes through the nasal passage, warming, moistening and cleaning. Directing through the mouth, the air does not go through all these mandatory steps. As a result, a baby who constantly breathes through his mouth often catches a cold and becomes seriously ill. Over time, he may develop an incorrect posture or bite due to incorrect closure of the dentition. There are also changes in behavior. Such children feel more uncomfortable with other children, their mood often deteriorates, there is a sleep disorder.

Allergic reaction of the body

Sometimes an allergy can manifest itself in the most unexpected way. Habitual red skin rash or coughing are the most well-known overt manifestations of food or drug allergy.

Swelling of the nasopharynx can also occur due to exposure to allergens on the child's body. Hence the difficulty in breathing through the nose, which prompts the child to breathe through the mouth. In this case, the otolaryngologist prescribes drops that relieve allergic inflammation of the nasal mucosa.

Dental problems

In the question of why the child constantly opens his mouth, the problem of a dental nature should also not be ruled out. Difficulty in closing the lips may lie in the wrong bite. Until the child is small and all his teeth have not erupted, it is difficult to notice this problem. Only when permanent teeth appear, parents can notice that something is wrong with the baby's bite, and go to the orthodontist. It is advisable to get to a specialist before the child is 12 years old, in which case the doctor will be able to regulate the correct growth of the jaws.

Also, a slightly open mouth can be the result of diseased teeth. It is more convenient for the baby to hold it open than to feel pain when closing. Parents should pay attention to the health of their child's teeth - perhaps the problem lies precisely here. In this case, you should go to a pediatric dentist. If, after having carried out the sanitation of the oral cavity, the child still does not part with his habit, other reasons should not be ruled out.

Violation of the tone of the circumlabial muscles

Violation of the tone of the circumlabial muscles is one of the reasons why a baby's mouth is constantly open. And this is a fairly common occurrence among infants. According to experts, if a baby under one year old has an open mouth, then there is no reason for concern. Such a habit can go away in a child by itself, without the intervention of doctors. Although you should not relax too much, the way you keep your mouth open can provoke the diseases mentioned above: the occurrence of adenoids, the formation of malocclusion. And if after a year the child’s mouth is also constantly open, what to do in such a situation, the specialist will tell you.

As for the circular muscles of the mouth, they can be strengthened with the help of special gymnastics, which is prescribed by orthodontists. This is a very effective method that corrects dentoalveolar pathology. An orthodontic cap (tooth trainer) will also help put the jaws in the correct position. The tongue of the child takes the correct position in the oral cavity, due to which breathing through the nose is restored. It is very convenient to use, as it does not have to be worn around the clock, which is important for small children. This special construction is like an assistant for parents - it helps to quickly wean the baby from thumb sucking.

Problems with the central nervous system

Such a pathology can be determined if, in addition to an open mouth, a child also has excessive salivation or the tip of the tongue constantly looks out. In this case, parents need not delay and show the baby to the doctor, since these symptoms can mean a serious pathology of the central nervous system.

At best, if the child constantly opens his mouth, this behavior is due to normal hypertonicity. Hypertonicity is accompanied by sleep disturbance, the baby is often irritable, naughty, crying.

Acquired Habit

Children constantly copy those with whom they communicate. This is fine. If the parents did not notice before the child that he keeps his mouth constantly open, and suddenly by the age of six they began to observe such a phenomenon, then most likely this is the usual copying of the behavior of someone they know. A child can take a bad habit not only from his peers, but also from adults with whom he often contacts.

The younger preschool age is the very period when children tend to behave like this. Over time, a bad habit can go away on its own. But still, it is better to calmly talk with the child and teach him to control his facial expressions.

be careful

Parents in no case should ignore the behavior of the child if they observe his constantly not closing mouth. Maybe a beloved child with such facial expressions looks cute and funny. But in any case, if the child's mouth is constantly open, this is a wake-up call for moms and dads. If you want to see your child healthy, you should immediately take action and trust the experts.

If the baby's mouth is always open, this becomes a real problem that worries parents. In addition to the fact that it is not aesthetically pleasing, this manner is a source of complications in the future, including: abnormal development of the nasopharynx, disharmony of the face, malocclusion. You should not ignore the problem, counting on its independent disappearance, but immediately begin to establish its cause.

Causes of a constantly open mouth

ENT diseases are the main culprits of a constantly open mouth in a child. Why is this habit formed? Adenoids, sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis media make nasal breathing difficult. This problem sometimes remains even after the removal of a pathologically enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil. In this case, additional diagnostics is required to prevent relapse.

Nasal polyps contribute to the fact that the child often opens his mouth (see also:). The growth of the mucous membrane is often associated with a congenital anomaly of the nasal septum or allergies. The operation eliminates the formation, but not its cause. It is necessary to treat infectious diseases of the nasopharynx in a timely manner, preventing them from flowing into a chronic form.

If the child's mouth is constantly open, this may be due to dental problems. Caries, deformation of tooth enamel contribute to malocclusion in a child, which entails an incorrect arrangement of teeth and tongue. The shape of the jaw changes in the baby, which leads to difficulties with nasal breathing.

The problem of a constantly open mouth is often associated with thumb sucking and nipple abuse during infancy. Holding foreign objects disrupts the normal development of muscles, which is why they are formed in accordance with this habit. If this state is ignored, the child cannot close his lips; during speech, his tongue falls out.

The habit of keeping your mouth open can be developed by constant sucking on a pacifier or thumb during infancy.

A constantly open mouth in a child is sometimes the result of insufficient development of the circular muscles - dense fibers that frame the lips. Reduced tone of these tissues at a younger age is the norm. This problem should not be a concern, as it disappears after a while without outside intervention.

The baby may have an open mouth due to a short frenulum of the tongue (we recommend reading:). If the processes of breathing and speech are disturbed, the child gradually gets used to keeping his mouth open. The problem is easily fixed with surgery. It is necessary to carry out the surgical procedure as soon as possible, until the baby has formed a persistent habit.

Pathological cases are when an open mouth is accompanied by strong salivation and a protruding tongue. These symptoms indicate neurological disorders: muscle hypertonicity or severe damage to the central nervous system. You should immediately contact a specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

Parents may have a question: why is the child's mouth constantly open if he does not have any pathologies? Often this manner is the result of an acquired bad habit.

If, for example, before the age of 5, the baby did not have a deviation in the form of a constantly open mouth, then this most often indicates that the child is copying someone else's behavior. Perhaps he is watching a baby or mimicking a panting dog.

In this case, you need to observe the child, paying attention to the time of occurrence of the violation: whether it lasts from the first months of life or has appeared recently. Perhaps it arises only in certain circumstances, with surprise or concentration. They also take into account how the child breathes - through the mouth or nose.

What is the danger of not breathing through the nose?

Breathing through the mouth disturbs the functioning of the whole organism. A person should always inhale air through the nose, since such a mechanism provides sanitation and heating of the air masses entering the body. In this case, the brain receptors are activated, triggering the processes of blood gas exchange and the supply of oxygen to the internal organs.

If a child's mouth is constantly ajar, he often gets sick with a cold, the disease is more difficult to treat. Due to insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain, the baby develops anxiety and anxiety. Such a patient has intermittent sleep, which makes him distracted and restless. Gradually, problems with posture and speech develop, which makes it difficult to communicate with peers.

If the baby does not close his mouth, his bite is broken. Normally, the tongue rests against the lower jaw, which ensures its normal development. With oral breathing, it is formed more slowly, which over time leads to disharmony of the face oval. Such patients are distinguished by a pushed back chin and increased grinding of the upper teeth by the lower dentition.

Lack of nasal breathing leads to malocclusion

Constant nasal breathing leads to deformation of the entire face, which is expressed in the following disorders:

lowered head and the appearance of a second chin;
narrowing of the nasal passages with simultaneous expansion of the bridge of the nose;
inability to close lips;
flat facial features.

What should parents do if the baby's mouth is always open?

Before going to the doctor, you need to check how the baby breathes. Perhaps he only opens his mouth during an interesting conversation or when watching cartoons. One should close each nostril one by one and ask him to breathe through his nose on the mirror. A large foggy spot indicates a deep inhalation of air, and the mouth opens only due to inattention.

If the cause of constant mouth breathing is a bad habit, you need to talk with the child and convince him to control his facial expressions. In this case, you should not scold the baby. It is important to clearly explain to him about the lack of culture of this manner and the risk of developing serious disorders. In order for him to start breathing through his nose faster, they do a special exercise: they inhale air through each nostril in turn, and exhale through the mouth.

Hello Oksana.

Of course, in some cases, situations like yours are not cause for alarm. Some doctors say that an open mouth in children under the age of four is completely normal and not a cause for concern. In small children, an open mouth may be associated with pacifier abuse, when children, after removing the pacifier, keep their mouths open for a long time out of habit. However, I would not argue that this is exactly the case for all children, since all cases must be approached purely individually, so if you notice that during the wakefulness period for a long time the child is with his mouth open, then this is a reason to visit a doctor . Unfortunately, it is very difficult to independently determine the cause of this phenomenon, since there may be several reasons for an open mouth in a child.

Firstly, the child may be with his mouth open if he has difficulty in nasal breathing. It can be a stuffy nose, for example, colds of the nasopharynx, or allergic reactions, but the most common cause of an open mouth in a child is adenoids, namely those cases when adenoid tissue grows, which partially covers the nasopharynx, thereby making nasal breathing difficult. In addition to difficulties with nasal breathing, adenoids can cause a child to speak poorly, and even the shape of the face changes in children with adenoids, for example, there is such a thing as an adenoid face. For an accurate diagnosis, you need to visit an otolaryngologist.

Another reason that a child's mouth is constantly open can be malocclusion, which makes it very difficult for the child to keep his mouth closed for a long period of time. Also, one of the reasons that the child's mouth is constantly open may be the weakness of the circular muscle of the mouth. For treatment, it is necessary to do special exercises with the child to strengthen the facial muscles, for example, mimic gymnastics. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to massage the facial muscles.

In rare cases, a constantly open mouth in a child indicates the presence of mental illness.

You can see for yourself that there are many reasons why a child has an open mouth for a long period of time. Of course, I am not saying that something is wrong with your child, but it is best to consult a doctor. Most often, in such cases, it helps to contact an otolaryngologist if there are problems with nasal breathing, or an orthodontist if it is a malocclusion.

Additionally

For parents, the health of their children is more important than any treasure in the world. Every caring mother from the very birth of the baby constantly monitors his condition. Any changes in the child's body and well-being cause concern. Parents immediately begin treatment, turn to doctors and find out the causes of what happened. Some phenomena are safe and do not require intervention, but there are also changes that indicate serious problems. If you notice that the child's mouth is ajar during sleep or activity, then take care of early identification of the causes of this condition.

Why is the child's mouth always open?

A half-open mouth in children can be a common habit, or it can be a sign of serious problems. If such a condition is of a periodic nature, namely, it manifests itself during a cold, SARS, then you should not panic. A runny nose and congestion make the child breathe through his mouth, so he is constantly ajar, especially during sleep.

When the mouth is open all the time, and not because of a cold, specialist help is needed. Only an experienced doctor is able to determine the factors causing the violation, and answer the question why this happens.

Most often it appears as a result of:

problems with ENT organs;
dental concerns;
muscle weakness around the mouth;
neurological abnormalities;
bad habit.

Ear, nose, throat diseases

The most common cause of an open mouth in a child is pathology of the ENT organs. We are talking about various problems that cause difficulty in nasal breathing. These include:

adenoids;
chronic runny nose;
otitis;
sinusitis.

If the otorhinolaryngologist has identified a disease, you should immediately begin to treat it. Improperly organized activity of the respiratory system leads to a lack of oxygen, which adversely affects the child's body. As you get older, adverse effects are likely.

dental problems

Due to problems with teeth, gums, oral cavity, the child may feel uncomfortable with closed lips, so he often opens his mouth. If there are problems with the growth and position of the teeth, then he may simply not be able to close his mouth.

Caries, leading to the destruction of children's teeth and their loss, the habit of sucking a pacifier and fingers, rickets are factors in the formation of malocclusion. As a result, the tongue in the mouth occupies an uncomfortable position, which negatively affects the jaws and ultimately leads to disorders associated with the natural processes of chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

From the moment the teeth appear in a baby, it is necessary to constantly visit a pediatric dentist, monitor their growth and condition. From an early age, proper care and cleaning of the oral cavity should be carried out. This will avoid dangerous deformations and subsequent corrections.

Weak circular muscle of the mouth

A person is able to control his lips (smile, push, pull together, wrap inward) due to muscle contractions that are located around the mouth and are circular muscle bundles. Among their purposes, the pulp function is distinguished, that is, closing the opening of the mouth. The muscle closes and opens the mouth. Muscular insufficiency of the oral region leads to involuntary opening of the mouth.

In children under one year old, insufficient tone of the circular muscle is not a cause for concern and the problem disappears in the process of growth. It is important to ensure that this state does not develop into a habit. If an older child suffers, then it is required to strengthen the muscle with facial massage and speech therapy exercises.

Neurological abnormalities

If, along with an open mouth, abundant salivation is observed and the tongue or its tip is constantly visible, then this may indicate neurological problems (ischemic damage to the central nervous system, hypertonicity). In this case, a neurologist will help, who examines the child and prescribes the appropriate treatment.

Adopted a bad habit

When the mouth is open with proper breathing, ideal condition of the teeth and oral cavity, normal muscle tone, one has only to explain to the child that this is a bad habit. There is no cause for concern in this case. Many children indulge and imitate friends, adults, cartoon characters. It is important to talk to the baby in a timely and calm manner so that he understands how unaesthetic it looks and what a threat it poses.

What is the danger of the condition?

Some parents do not pay attention to the fact that the child's mouth is constantly open, explaining this condition as a habit. However, not everything always ends well. The consequences can be very serious.

If for some reason a child does not close his mouth, then, naturally, he does not breathe through his nose. Nasal breathing is provided by nature. In addition to providing the body with oxygen, it performs a number of related functions: it cleans, moisturizes, warms the incoming air and improves the process of gas exchange. The uncleaned and cold air flow passing through the mouth carries bacteria into the body, so the baby is more likely to catch colds and get sick for a long time.

The lack of oxygen causes a problematic state and behavior of the child, headaches, and postural distortion. Such children experience difficulties in communicating with people due to speech disorders, bite, depression and anxiety. An adult child feels uncomfortable, ashamed of his appearance.

What can be done in this situation?

If you notice that the child's mouth is open, then observe his behavior. First of all, try to identify the causes of this condition yourself.

Track your breathing day and night, during sleep and activity. Make sure your baby's mattress and pillow allow him to sleep in a comfortable position.

Pay attention to the child's teeth and mouth. If you notice any warning signs, take your child to the dentist.

If the child has a cold, resulting in nasal congestion, the doctor will recommend vasoconstrictors. However, it should be remembered that they cannot be used for a long time, and they are generally contraindicated for the smallest. Antibiotics can also be prescribed only by a doctor. They become necessary when diseases of the ENT organs are caused by pathogenic microorganisms. For allergic rhinitis, topical antihistamines are prescribed.

If you still have doubts, visit the pediatrician, indicating the time of appearance of the pathology and the results of your observation. He will examine the child and, if necessary, appoint a visit to a highly specialized specialist.

If additional signs are clearly visible that disturb the child, then immediately consult a dentist, ENT or neurologist. Only a doctor will determine the exact cause and help get rid of the problem.