Do you have a child who habitually breathes out of his or her mouth? This is a common habit for young children. About half of children under the age of eight will be guilty of at least some mouth-breathing. If he or she hasn’t grown out of the habit by eight years old, though, it might be wise to bring this to our International District dentist.
The main problem with mouth-breathing is that it dries up the saliva in your mouth. You need this saliva to protect yourself from the harmful microbes that cause tooth decay and gum disease, so a dry mouth can invite serious dental problems upon you. Children with dry mouths are highly prone to tooth decay, gum disease, and other such conditions, which can seriously affect their oral health well into their adult years.