Respiratory Therapist Questions Tonsils

My daughter breathes through her mouth due to her adenoids problem. Is this okay?

My daughter is 5 years old and gets swollen adenoids. When her adenoids are bothering her she breathes through her mouth -- especially at night. Is this normal?

3 Answers

Hello! Swollen adenoids can make it tough to breathe through the nose. Because of that, the most natural response is to breathe through the mouth to get air in. When you are a "nose breather" it can be very uncomfortable to breathe through your mouth because the body is not use to that way. Consult your daughter's medical provider for proper care. I hope she feels better soon.
It is common for children to breathe through their mouth when they are sick and their adenoids are swollen. If she always breathes through her mouth day and night, that can be a problem. Also, loud snoring and especially sleep apnea (where she stops breathing for a short period of time) is a more serious problem and needs to be addressed with an ear, nose, and throat specialist. You can try an over-the-counter allergy nose spray like Flonase or Nasocort when she is mouth-breathing and see if that helps. As she gets older, her adenoids may start to get smaller.
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No. When the adenoids are big, they block the back of the nasal passage and she has to open her mouth to get air in. Usually, at this age, if she does this daily, she may need them removed. You can get dental problems and sleep apnea if the tonsils are also enlarged. She may need a referral to an ENT.