Mouth breathing in children is sometimes regarded as a benign habit. However, persistent mouth breathing may be associated with patterns of craniofacial growth, dental development, and sleep-related breathing concerns that warrant clinical evaluation. In orthodontic practice, children who present with dental crowding, narrow maxillary arches, or crossbites may also demonstrate altered breathing patterns. These findings may coexist but do not establish causation in isolation.

Introduction Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) refers to a spectrum of conditions characterized by impaired airflow during sleep. These conditions may be associated with disrupted sleep architecture, daytime fatigue, behavioral changes, cardiovascular strain, and developmental concerns, particularly in children. Medical diagnosis and management of SDB, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are directed by physicians and are commonly established through sleep studies. For in