An occasional snore during a cold is normal. But long lasting snoring, mouth breathing and restless sleep are signs parents should notice, since they may relate to the nose and throat and to the jaws as well.
- Snoring for a few nights during a cold is usually fine, but snoring on most nights deserves attention.
- Common causes are enlarged tonsils or adenoids and allergic rhinitis.
- Long term mouth breathing can make a child more prone to decay, bad breath and gum inflammation.
- See a paediatrician or an ear nose and throat doctor if snoring persists, there are pauses in breathing or sleep is restless.
A child who snores for a few nights with a cold or a blocked nose from the weather is usually nothing to worry about. However, if your child snores almost every night, breathes through the mouth and sleeps restlessly, it is worth finding the cause. The usual causes lie in the nose and throat, but breathing through the mouth for a long time can also affect the teeth and jaws.
Why do children snore?
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids narrow the airway behind the throat.
- Allergic rhinitis or sinus infection causes a lasting blocked nose.
- A cold or temporary congestion during days when the child is unwell.
How does mouth breathing relate to teeth and jaws?
When the nose stays blocked, a child gets used to breathing through the mouth. Long term mouth breathing dries the mouth, making bad breath, decay and gum inflammation more likely, and in some children it may be linked to changes in tongue posture, the shape of the jaw or how the teeth fit together. See also whether mouth breathing affects a child's teeth and tonsil stones and bad breath.
When should you take your child to be checked?
- Your child snores on most nights, snores loudly or has short pauses in breathing.
- Sleep is restless, with sweating, a lot of turning or bedwetting.
- Your child is sleepy during the day, has trouble concentrating or is often irritable.
- Your child often keeps the mouth open while sleeping and watching television, with dry cracked lips.
In these cases, take your child to a paediatrician or an ear nose and throat doctor to find the cause. A dentist can help assess the teeth, jaws and mouth breathing habit, but diagnosing and treating the cause of snoring needs a specialist doctor.
What can parents do at home?
- Keep the nose clean, rinsing gently with saline as your doctor advises.
- Make sure your child drinks enough water and keeps brushing twice a day, because the mouth dries out easily.
- Avoid long term use of a dummy or thumb sucking, see whether thumb sucking harms teeth.
- Observe and note how often your child snores so you can tell the doctor.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Parents can call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first, or walk in during opening hours so the dentist can check the child's teeth and jaws.
Frequently asked questions
Is snoring in children something to worry about?
Snoring for a few nights during a cold is usually fine. If your child snores on most nights, snores loudly or has short pauses in breathing, take your child to be checked.
Does snoring affect a child's teeth?
Snoring usually comes from the nose and throat, but with long term mouth breathing a child may be more prone to decay, bad breath and gum inflammation, and in some children it is linked to jaw shape and how the teeth fit together.
Which doctor should I see if my child snores?
A paediatrician or an ear nose and throat doctor can find the cause. A dentist can assess the teeth and jaws when there is mouth breathing.