Postural Disorders in Mouth Breathing Children: A Systematic Review

This systematic review assessed studies of posture in children diagnosed with mouth breathing. Ten studies covering 417 children met the criteria, using methods including postural rating scales, photography, and motion capture.

The finding was suggestive but not definitive: the authors concluded there was low evidence that mouth-breathing patterns in children aged 5-14 are associated with postural deviations. The weakness of the underlying studies matters because it prevents overclaiming.

The practical takeaway is that posture should be assessed as part of the broader airway and oral-function picture, while recognising that better studies are still needed.