08/09/2025
Early intervention is key!
Did you know that by age 5, a child’s facial structure is already 85% of its adult size?
This isn’t just an interesting fact — it’s a wake-up call. Craniofacial growth is happening rapidly in the early years, and if it’s going in the wrong direction, waiting to address it can mean missing the window for optimal development.
Many kids show signs of dysfunctional growth patterns early on — mouth breathing, poor sleep, snoring, dark under eyes, crowded teeth — but these red flags are too often dismissed as “normal.”
The truth is: they’re not normal — they’re common. And left unaddressed, they can affect airway health, sleep quality, behavior, and even cognitive development.
That’s why tools like the Fairest-6 — a simple screening tool to catch these signs early, when intervention is most effective and least invasive.
If you’re noticing these signs, don’t wait to ask questions. Depending on the child’s age and symptoms, support may come from:
• An airway-focused pediatric dentist
• A ENT
• A myofunctional therapist
• Or a speech-language pathologist (SLP) trained in oral motor skills and feeding
Early, collaborative care can make all the difference.
Learn more at www.thebreatheinstitute.com
Albert, A. M., Ricanek, K., Patterson, E., & Cuervo, L. J. (2019). Craniofacial changes in children—Birth to late adolescence. ARC Journal of Forensic Science, 4(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.20431/2456-0049.0401001
