05/12/2025
Ctto
🆘 Asthma in Children: How It Can Affect Oral Health and Facial Development
Asthma is more than a respiratory condition—it can also influence a child’s oral health and even aspects of craniofacial development. Many young patients with asthma experience mouth breathing due to chronic airway obstruction, which may lead to alterations in maxillary growth, narrow palates, posterior crossbites, and increased risk of malocclusions.
◽️ Additionally, frequent use of inhalers—especially corticosteroids—can reduce salivary flow and change the oral environment, increasing the probability of dental caries, gingivitis, and oral candidiasis. Mouth breathing can also contribute to dry mouth, altered tongue posture, and changes in the balance of facial muscles, which play a key role in proper dental arch development.
◽️ For pediatric dentists, early identification of these patterns is essential. Collaboration with pediatricians, careful monitoring of oral hygiene, preventive strategies for dry mouth, and guidance on proper inhaler use can significantly improve outcomes for children living with asthma.
👉 Supporting these patients means looking beyond the lungs—understanding how breathing patterns influence the entire craniofacial system is key to promoting healthy growth and preventing future complications.
