Does a child sleeping with their mouth open definitely mean that they have enlarged adenoids?

Written by Dong Xian Yan

Pediatrics

Updated on June 17, 2025

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Children sleeping with their mouths open might be due to enlarged adenoids, nasal congestion, or the development of poor sleeping habits. Sleeping with the mouth open can potentially impact the facial development of children, and in severe cases, may lead to developmental deformities of the face and affect the child's intellectual development.

Therefore, when parents notice this phenomenon in their children, it should be taken seriously. They should promptly take their children to the hospital for a consultation to ascertain the reasons behind the mouth-opening during sleep and address the cause appropriately to mitigate the adverse effects this habit may have on the child.

Other Voices

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Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

49sec

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Can adenoid hypertrophy be treated with massage?

Patients with adenoid hypertrophy generally do not see significant therapeutic effects from massage therapy. Adenoid hypertrophy is due to the proliferation of lymphoid tissue at the posterior nasopharyngeal wall, which leads to nasal congestion and sleep apnea at night. When sleep apnea occurs, it is first necessary to complete sleep monitoring and blood oxygen saturation monitoring and other relevant tests to make a clear diagnosis of the patient's condition. For patients with adenoid hypertrophy occupying more than two-thirds of the posterior nasal aperture, plasma surgery is usually required to ablate the hypertrophied adenoid tissue and restore normal nasal ventilation function, thereby alleviating the patient’s sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome.

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Written by Yao Jun

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

51sec

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How big should the adenoids be to consider surgery?

Enlarged glands are generally more common in infants and preschool children. They can block the posterior nasal passages, causing the child to breathe through the mouth, snore, and hold their breath. If the child is over one year old, surgical treatment can be considered. Because the anesthesia risk is higher with very young children, but as they get older, chronic mouth breathing and breath-holding can lead to abnormal facial development and brain oxygen deficiency, affecting the child's development. Theoretically, the earlier the adenoid hypertrophy is discovered and treated, the better the treatment effect. However, due to the young age of the child and the risks of anesthesia, surgery is generally best scheduled around the age of two years, after the child has turned one.

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Written by Zhang Jun

Otolaryngology

1min 15sec

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Can you eat bird's nest with adenoid hypertrophy?

Adenoid hypertrophy is permissible for consumption of bird's nest, which is considered a health supplement that can enhance the body's immunity and resistance, offering significant assistance in the recovery from adenoid hypertrophy. Generally, adenoid hypertrophy is caused by repeated inflammatory stimulation following decreased immunity and resistance. Adenoid hypertrophy most commonly occurs in children aged three to eight. The adenoid is a lymphoid mass located on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, and long-term inflammatory irritation can lead to congestion, swelling, and hyperplasia of the adenoids, causing symptoms such as nasal congestion, snoring during sleep, decreased hearing, and tinnitus. It's advisable to visit a hospital for a check-up with an electronic laryngoscope or nasopharyngoscope to confirm a diagnosis. During the acute phase of treatment, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is required, followed by a bland diet and consumption of health supplements to enhance immunity and resistance when symptoms alleviate. If adenoid hypertrophy persists for a long time and conservative treatment is ineffective, local surgical removal may be necessary.

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Written by Yao Jun

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

50sec

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How to treat adenoid hypertrophy?

Adenoid hypertrophy mainly occurs in infants and children. It is a congenital disease, meaning that most children are born with varying degrees of adenoid hypertrophy. However, in many children, the adenoids begin to shrink after six months and generally do not cause symptoms. If the adenoids are enlarged, it can lead to the child breathing through their mouth, snoring, and gasping, which may cause facial changes, brain hypoxia, and delayed brain development. In such cases, adenoidectomy might be considered, generally performed under general anesthesia. However, some children with adenoid hypertrophy also have enlarged tonsils, so both surgeries are often performed together. Otherwise, if only the adenoid hypertrophy is treated without addressing enlarged tonsils, problems such as mouth breathing and snoring may not improve.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

54sec

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Can people with adenoid hypertrophy eat mangoes?

The adenoids are lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharyngeal area, with adenoid hypertrophy mainly occurring in children, though it occasionally occurs in adults at a lower incidence rate. Clinically, adenoid hypertrophy is primarily caused by adverse stimulations such as allergic factors and repeated bacterial infections, with symptoms commonly including nasal congestion, snoring during sleep, and mouth breathing. For children, surgical removal is often necessary, currently performed mainly through plasma ablation. Generally, patients with adenoid hypertrophy can consume mangoes, as there are no absolute contraindications. However, if the patient also has a mango allergy, then they must avoid eating mangoes. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze each patient's specific situation.