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Signs
- Lips stay apart when relaxed or watching TV.
- Sleeps with the mouth open.
- Snores or breathes noisily at night.
- Wakes up with a dry mouth or drools on the pillow.
Effects
- Bad breath or frequent cavities.
- Crowded teeth or a narrow, high palate.
- Tired, cranky or poor focus during the day.
- Dark circles under the eyes.
Possible causes
- The nose feels blocked most days.
- Allergies or sneezing fits.
- For a child: large adenoids or tonsils have been mentioned before.
What your ticks may mean
Mouth breathing is often a sign that the nose is not working well. The cause may be a bent septum, swollen turbinates, allergies or, in children, enlarged adenoids. Sometimes it is just a habit.
See a doctor soon if
You ticked three or more boxes, or a child snores most nights. Finding the cause early matters most in children, while the face is still growing.