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Have you ever wondered how breathing affects your child's future? Nose breathing supports facial growth, dental health, and lifelong breathing by guiding the upper jaw to grow properly. In contrast, mouth breathing can lead to crowded teeth, narrow arches, and ongoing breathing issues.

In today’s edition of More Than Teeth with Dr. Mike Bennett:

1. How Nasal Breathing Promotes Healthy Facial Growth: Learn how proper tongue posture during nasal breathing expands the jaws, supports airway development, and ensures space for healthy teeth.

2. The Hidden Risks of Mouth Breathing in Children: Chronic mouth breathing can narrow the dental arch, restrict the airway, disrupt sleep, and lead to health, behavior, and learning challenges.

3. The Case for Early Intervention: Prioritize Breathing Over Braces

   Learn why expanding a child's airway early on is essential for their health. Developing good breathing habits before worrying about braces or appearance is better.

4. CE Opportunities / Events

5-minute read👇

Clinical Corner

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Key Takeaways🔑

Dr. Bennett’s Patient Spotlight: A Healthier Smile, A Healthier Child

Before treatment, this young patient struggled with a narrow dental arch, chronic mouth breathing, allergies, asthma, and nighttime bedwetting (enuresis).
Photographs and CBCT imaging revealed oral crowding and a constricted airway.

After 6 months of airway expansion therapy using a growth guidance appliance:

• Bedwetting completely resolved

• Allergic symptoms reduced

• Sleep quality improved

• Speech and sensory issues decreased

• Activity levels and daytime energy significantly increased

After 15 months of treatment:

• Airway volume more than doubled

• The minimum cross-sectional airway area increased by over 30%

• Nasal breathing was restored as the child’s default

• Facial profile improved, with more balanced jaw growth

• Dental arch widened, reducing crowding and improving tongue space

• Allergy symptoms further decreased

• No longer needed allergy or asthma medications

• Nighttime sleep became fully restorative (no more restless sleep or night sweats)

• Attention span and school performance improved noticeably

• Higher confidence and better social interaction are reported by parents and teachers

Healthy breathing is essential for growth. Research indicates that nasal breathing supports proper jaw development and aligned teeth. In contrast, mouth breathing, often due to allergies or enlarged tonsils, can lead to narrow arches and sleep-disordered breathing. Studies confirm that pediatric obstructive sleep apnea is linked to impaired facial growth. Early identification and airway-focused interventions are crucial for a child's development and well-being.

Business of Sleep

📈Better businesses = more lives saved!

Early expansion isn’t just a dental service anymore — it’s becoming a whole-health intervention. Practices that offer airway assessments and pediatric expansion protocols are positioning themselves at the forefront of the growing movement to redefine orthodontics through the lens of sleep and systemic wellness.

Something Sweet

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Miscellaneous

😅P.S. … At More Than Teeth, healthy breathing builds healthy futures.
If you know a parent, teacher, or coach who would benefit from this information, please forward this newsletter — together we can help every child grow into their brightest, healthiest self.