Paediatric Maxillary Expansion and Nasal Breathing: A Systematic Review

This review looked at 12 studies involving over 300 children who had their palate widened using an expander — a dental device that gradually pushes the upper jaw wider. The question was simple: does widening the palate help a child breathe through their nose?

The answer was unanimous. Every single study found that children breathed better through their nose after palatal expansion. Air resistance dropped, and airflow increased by a meaningful amount.

Why does this work? Because the roof of the mouth is also the floor of the nose. When you widen the palate, you're physically opening up the nasal passages at the same time. It's one of the clearest examples of how dental treatment and breathing are connected — and why treating the structure of the face can solve problems that nasal sprays and allergy medications never will.