Tonsils, Adenoids & Airway Health – What Parents Need to Know
Tonsils and adenoids may seem like minor tissues in the back of the throat, but their role in breathing, sleep, and facial development is anything but small.
In airway-focused dentistry, we pay close attention to enlarged tonsils and adenoids because they can block the upper airway, leading to mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and even changes in facial structure.
What Are the Tonsils and Adenoids?
Tonsils are lymphoid tissues at the back of the throat
Adenoids sit higher behind the nose, where they can’t be seen without imaging
These tissues are part of the immune system and help trap bacteria and viruses. But when they become chronically inflamed or enlarged, they can obstruct airflow, especially during sleep.
How Enlarged Tonsils & Adenoids Affect Health
🔴 Blocked Nasal Breathing → Mouth breathing
🔴 Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Kids
🔴 Interrupted Sleep → ADHD-like symptoms, fatigue, behavioral issues
🔴 Altered Facial Growth → Long face, narrow jaws, recessed chin
🔴 Poor Tongue Posture → Low/resting tongue position
🔴 Speech, feeding, and orthodontic issues
The Airway Connection
When the nose is blocked, the body compensates by breathing through the mouth. This disrupts tongue posture, narrows the palate, and creates a cycle that worsens sleep and jaw development. The longer it goes on, the more difficult it becomes to correct without intervention.
That’s where airway dentistry and myofunctional therapy come in.
How Myofunctional Therapy Helps
Myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for the muscles of the face, mouth, and airway. It:
Strengthens nasal breathing
Encourages proper tongue posture
Improves muscle tone in the throat
Supports pre- and post-op care for tonsil/adenoid removal
Helps prevent relapse of mouth breathing habits
What to Watch For
If your child snores, mouth breathes, sleeps restlessly, or has a long/narrow face, it’s worth evaluating their tonsils and adenoids, and their tongue posture, too.
Integrative Family Dentistry works closely with ENTs, pediatricians, and myofunctional therapists to build a plan that prioritizes function, form, and long-term wellness.
