Patient's question:
For some reason, recently I've noticed that my baby tends to sleep with their mouth open at night. Is this a normal phenomenon? How can I correct it? Could you please introduce me to an expert who can explain what's happening?Doctor's answer:
When the baby sleeps with their mouth open, the mother can get close to the baby to listen and check if they are breathing through their nose or mouth. She can also use her hand to test—if it's mouth breathing, that's not good. Mouth breathing while sleeping occurs when the nasal passage is blocked, forcing the child to breathe through their mouth. The nasal cavity has cilia that move when active, expelling microorganisms and dust inhaled with the air. The nasal cavity also contains sinuses that warm the inhaled air. Mouth breathing deprives the child of this protective mechanism, making them more prone to getting sick.