12/18/2025
š
How to Check Tonsils When the View Is Tricky
Sometimes itās easy to see the back of the throat.
But in kidsāor adultsāwith large tonsils, mouth breathing, tongue-tie, or a narrow palate, the view can be much harder.
Instead of tonsils, all you see is hard palate.
Thatās often a Mallampati class 4 viewāand itās an important clue.
A few key tips that can make a big difference:
āļø Sit upright
āļø Use the sniffing position (chin neutral, gentle neck extension)
āļø Avoid chin-tuck or over-extension
āļø Ask for a gentle tongue extension and āahhhā
āļø Try slow mouth breathing to relax the throat
If the tonsils still arenāt visible, thatās not a failureāitās information.
A crowded throat and limited view often go hand-in-hand with airway restriction.
In those cases, further evaluationālike a CBCT or flexible scope examāmay be helpful to understand whatās happening beyond what you can see.
š¬ Parents and providers:
Have you ever struggled to get a clear view of the tonsils?
What techniques have helpedāor what questions do you still have?
ā
Iām Dr. Soroush Zaghiāyour go-to expert for sleep, breathing, and airway health.
Follow for more on how to breathe better and function betterāwith a natural-minded, holistic, and functional approach.