Is Your Child Growing Right and Breathing Right?

November 26, 2025

What Every Parent Should Know About Early Jaw and Airway Development

When you bring your child in for a dental checkup, you may be expecting a quick look at their teeth and a brief conversation about brushing and flossing. What you might not expect is a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s airway, jaw development, facial muscles, and sleep quality.

At MyoWay, we go far beyond the basics. We believe that every child deserves the chance to grow right, breathe right, and live their best life possible. That is why our evaluations are always free. In this article, we will walk you through exactly what we look for during that first visit and why early airway-focused care is a game-changer for your child’s long-term health.

Why Jaw Growth and Airway Health Matter More Than You Think

Most parents think orthodontics is just about straight teeth. The truth is, the position and growth of your child’s jaw impacts far more than their smile. It affects how they breathe, how they sleep, and even how they perform in school.

The airway is the path that allows oxygen to reach the lungs. When the jaw is underdeveloped or misaligned, it can restrict the airway. This can lead to a cascade of problems, including mouth breathing, poor sleep, behavioral concerns, and fatigue. Many of these symptoms are misattributed to behavioral conditions or dismissed entirely.

Early intervention allows us to identify and address these issues before they become bigger problems.

What We Evaluate During a Myofunctional Assessment

During your child’s evaluation at MyoWay, we follow a very specific and thorough pattern. Here are the key components we look at:

1. Dental Alignment

We start by examining how your child’s teeth are coming in. Are they crowded? Are they developing in a pattern that suggests underlying jaw constraints? These clues help us understand how the mouth and bones are functioning together.

2. Arch Form and Bone Development

The shape and width of the dental arch are critical. A narrow arch can suggest a restricted airway and improper tongue posture. The bones that support the teeth tell us whether the jaw is growing in a way that allows for proper breathing and facial balance.

3. Facial Development

We examine the child’s overall facial structure. Are the cheeks flat or sunken? Is the lower face underdeveloped? These are signs that the facial bones may not be growing properly, which can impact the position of the jaw and airway function.

4. Muscle Function During Breathing and Swallowing

We observe how your child uses the muscles of their face, both when at rest and during functional tasks like swallowing. Dysfunction here may signal poor oral posture, tongue thrust, or compensatory breathing patterns like mouth breathing.

5. Breathing and Sleep Function

Many children who visit us appear exhausted. They may have dark circles under their eyes, dry lips, or habitual open-mouth posture. These signs tell us a lot about how well they are sleeping and whether they are getting the deep, restorative rest their body and brain need. Through this detailed assessment, we are able to identify red flags that may be impacting your child’s development.

Common Warning Signs Parents Should Not Ignore

Many of the children we see are already showing symptoms of airway-related issues, though parents may not recognize them as such.

These can include:

Frequent mouth breathing
Snoring or noisy breathing during sleep
Teeth grinding
Crowded teeth
Fatigue or difficulty waking up
Hyperactivity or attention difficulties
Poor growth or failure to thrive

These signs are often brushed off or attributed to unrelated causes. What many parents do not realize is that poor sleep and limited oxygen intake can directly impact brain development, emotional regulation, and immune function.

What Makes MyoWay Different

At MyoWay, we are passionate about early, airway-centered intervention. Rather than waiting for problems to show up in adolescence or adulthood, we aim to correct the underlying issues before they cause long-term damage.

We use a combination of medical-grade appliances and myofunctional therapy to support proper jaw and airway development. Our team is trained to work with the body’s natural growth patterns, guiding development in a safe and effective way.

We do not simply mask the symptoms. We look at root causes, starting with the airway.

Why Early Intervention Matters

The earlier a child is evaluated and supported, the more options we have to guide healthy growth. Waiting until the teen years for orthodontic treatment often misses the opportunity to address structural issues when the bones are most adaptable. We often hear from parents who say, “I wish I had known this earlier.” By offering free evaluations, we hope to make that knowledge more accessible and reduce barriers for families.

Intervening early means your child may avoid:

Years of poor sleep and related behavioral issues
Invasive dental procedures or extractions later on
A cycle of relapses after orthodontic treatment
Chronic fatigue or immune problems related to poor oxygenation

What to Expect During a Free Consultation

If you schedule a free evaluation with us, here is what the process looks like:

We begin with a full review of your child’s medical and developmental history
We perform a detailed visual and functional exam of the face, jaw, mouth, and breathing
We observe swallowing, oral rest posture, and facial muscle engagement
We assess signs of fatigue, poor sleep, and nasal versus mouth breathing
You will receive a clear explanation of what we observe and what next steps are recommended

Our goal is to empower you with information. We are not here to pressure you into unnecessary treatment. We want to equip you with real insight into how your child is growing.

Real Stories. Real Impact.

We have had parents tell us that their child’s focus improved within weeks of starting therapy. Others report fewer meltdowns, better sleep, and renewed energy throughout the day. These outcomes are not coincidental. They are the result of giving the body what it needs to function properly — oxygen, sleep, and healthy development.

One mother told us, “My son went from dreading bedtime to waking up refreshed. I did not even realize how exhausted he was until I saw the difference.” These are not rare outcomes. They are what happens when children are given the chance to breathe and grow the way they were meant to.

Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. When we look beyond straight teeth and focus on how the jaw and airway are developing, we uncover a bigger picture of health. Early evaluation and intervention are simple steps that can change your child’s future.

If you are unsure whether your child is growing and breathing properly, now is the time to find out. We are here to help.