Align PT and Myo

Correct Swallowing Supports Healthy Growth

Children swallow thousands of times every day. When the tongue rests on the roof of the mouth and functions properly during swallowing, it can help support healthy jaw development, dental alignment, and airway function.

Signs of an improper swallowing pattern may include tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, or excessive lip and chin movement when swallowing.

Small habits repeated thousands of times each day can have a big impact on a child's development. If you have concerns about your child's oral function, an evaluation may help identify underlying issues early.

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What does “tongue overflow” tell us about tongue space and airway health?

This image highlights a screening tool we use within the FAirEST 6+4 to help evaluate tongue space during Lingual Palatal Suction (LPS). When the tongue extends beyond the teeth on both sides, it can be a strong indicator of insufficient tongue space and may suggest the need for further airway evaluation. Functional screening tools like this help clinicians better recognize patterns connected to sleep-disordered breathing, oral function, and overall development.

To learn more, visit www.thebreatheinstitute.com
For more screening tools ➡️ www.fairest.org/tools

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In a landmark study of 11,000 children…

Those who snored or mouth breathed for six months or more in early childhood were more likely by age 7 to develop:

• Inattention
• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Sleep problems

Breathing during sleep is not just about air.

It shapes how the brain develops.

When a child snores, gasps, or breathes through their mouth at night, it may be a signal that the airway is struggling.

Early recognition matters.
Because early airway health supports healthy brain development.

Very few parents realise… tantrums, meltdowns, anxiety, or poor attention may actually be linked to breathing and sleep problems.

Disrupted sleep and airway obstruction affect brain function, emotional regulation, and attention—so these everyday struggles often have a biological root.

Raising awareness matters, because addressing breathing and sleep early can transform behaviour, mood, and learning—not just at night, but all day long.

CPAP failure isn’t a patient problem.
It’s a model problem.

When 30 to 50 percent of people cannot tolerate CPAP, it tells us we are managing airflow at night without addressing why the airway collapses in the first place.

Poor tongue posture, orofacial muscle dysfunction, nasal resistance, tonsils, adenoids, craniofacial restriction and other physical obstructions matter. They shape the airway 24 hours a day, not just during sleep.

Treating pressure without correcting structure and function guarantees poor adherence.

Address causes first.
Support with devices second.

Big tonsils. Teeth grinding. Restless sleep. Waking exhausted.

These are not normal childhood habits.
They are classic warning signs that a child’s airway may be compromised during sleep.

Waiting does not make warning signs safer.
Assessment does.

Early airway evaluation can change sleep, behaviour, learning, and long term health.

Don’t wait.
Listen to the signs.

This!!!!!

When the mouth stays open, the tongue drops, the jaw falls back and the airway narrows.
Breathing becomes noisier, more effortful and less stable, especially during sleep.

What looks harmless in the daytime can translate into obstruction at night.
Open mouths often lead to closed airways.

Watch the airway