How Posture Affects Your Child’s Jaw, Breathing, and Sleep
- Megan Crooks
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Helping feeding, speech, and function take flight for little ones in Santa Barbara.
If your child struggles with mouth breathing, jaw tension, teeth grinding, or poor sleep, posture may be an important piece of the puzzle.
As a speech-language pathologist specializing in pediatric and adolescent myofunctional therapy, I help families understand how posture influences jaw development, airway health, and breathing patterns. The alignment of your child’s head, neck, and spine can directly impact how well their mouth and airway function - both during the day and at night.
Why Posture Is Important for Jaw and Airway Development
Posture refers to how the head, neck, and spine are aligned. When posture is compromised, the jaw and airway often compensate.
Poor posture can:
Change jaw positioning and muscle balance
Increase strain on the jaw joint (TMJ)
Restrict the airway
Reinforce mouth breathing and shallow breathing
Contribute to sleep-disordered breathing
Because the jaw, tongue, and airway are connected to the neck and spine, posture must be addressed as part of any holistic myofunctional therapy program.
Common Causes of Poor Posture in Children and Teens
Many postural concerns develop gradually and are often related to everyday habits.
Forward Head Posture and Screen Use
Prolonged screen time and sedentary activities encourage the head to drift forward, increasing strain on the jaw and neck.
Mouth Breathing
Chronic mouth breathing alters head and neck position, which can disrupt jaw development and swallowing patterns.
Weak Core and Spinal Muscles
When postural muscles are weak, children rely on compensatory patterns that affect jaw stability and breathing efficiency.
How Poor Posture Impacts Jaw Function and Breathing
Postural misalignment doesn’t stay in one area of the body - it affects the entire system.
Poor posture may contribute to:
Jaw pain, clicking, or clenching (TMD)
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Neck and shoulder tension
Difficulty maintaining nasal breathing
Restricted airway during sleep
Fatigue and poor sleep quality
Over time, these compensations can interfere with your child’s comfort, focus, and overall health.
Signs Parents Should Watch For
Physical Signs
Forward head posture or rounded shoulders
Jaw sitting too far back or appearing misaligned
Neck stiffness or limited movement
Symptoms
Jaw pain or popping
Headaches or neck discomfort
Shallow breathing or frequent mouth breathing
Long-Term Concerns
Chronic jaw dysfunction
Teeth grinding
Sleep-disordered breathing or restless sleep
If symptoms are severe or worsening, collaboration with other healthcare providers may be recommended.
How Myofunctional Therapy Supports Posture and Oral Function
Myofunctional therapy looks beyond the mouth to address how the muscles of the face, tongue, jaw, and airway work with the body as a whole. One tool I commonly use is the Myo Munchee®, which helps integrate jaw function, posture, and breathing.
Why I Use the Myo Munchee® in Myofunctional Therapy
The Myo Munchee® is a non-invasive oral appliance that supports:
Healthy jaw and cervical alignment
Neuromuscular coordination of chewing muscles
Biofeedback for proper oral posture
Integration of jaw position with spinal alignment
When used correctly, it helps children become more aware of how posture and oral function work together.
Myofunctional Therapy Exercises for Posture and Breathing
Every child’s program is individualized, but therapy may include:
Passive Jaw Positioning
Gentle holding of the Munchee to encourage neutral jaw posture
Focus on head and neck alignment
Active Chewing with Postural Awareness
Short chewing sessions (5 minutes, 2–3 times daily)
Maintaining upright posture and nasal breathing
Whole-Body Postural Integration
Lying on a posture pole with the Munchee to support spinal alignment
Functional movements such as squats while maintaining nasal breathing
Additional Exercises That Support Healthy Posture
To reinforce therapy progress, I often recommend:
Core strengthening (planks, yoga, Pilates-based exercises)
Thoracic spine mobility (foam rolling, seated stretches)
Nasal breathing and jaw relaxation using slow diaphragmatic breathing
These exercises help stabilize the body so the jaw and airway don’t have to compensate.
A Whole-Body Approach to Pediatric Myofunctional Therapy
Posture plays a key role in how your child breathes, sleeps, and uses their jaw. Addressing posture alongside oral function helps create long-lasting improvements - not quick fixes.
If your child struggles with mouth breathing, jaw discomfort, or poor sleep, myofunctional therapy may provide the missing link.
At Seabird Speech Therapy
At Seabird Speech Therapy, we take a whole-child, whole-body approach to care -recognizing that posture, breathing, oral motor skills, and sensory processing are deeply connected.
Megan Crooks, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and certified Myo Munchee® practitioner who specializes in sensorimotor feeding therapy and orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT). She supports children and adolescents with feeding differences, oral motor challenges, and related airway and functional concerns using a responsive, child-led approach.
Our goal is to help children speak well, breathe well, eat well, and grow well - while preserving felt safety, autonomy, and the parent–child relationship every step of the way.
If you have concerns about your child’s feeding skills, oral motor development, posture, breathing patterns, or sensory responses during meals, a consultation can help determine whether myofunctional therapy or sensorimotor feeding therapy may be beneficial.
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