Mouth Breathing and Bed Wetting:
What You Need to Know

Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, can persist well beyond the age of five, and one often-overlooked contributing factor is mouth breathing during sleep.

Many parents are surprised to learn there is research showing a link between mouth breathing and bed wetting, and that mouth breathing can even continue after tonsil or adenoid surgery. It is not the only cause, but it can be an important piece of the puzzle. When mouth breathing is addressed, many children experience better sleep and fewer wet nights.

If your child is between the ages of 5 and 12, still wetting the bed, and shows signs of mouth breathing, this article will help you understand how the two may be connected. We will look at how mouth breathing affects sleep and bladder control, why tongue posture matters, what you can try at home, and when it makes sense to get professional advice.

How Mouth Breathing Affects Bed Wetting

Mouth breathing might seem harmless, but over time it can disrupt deep sleep and reduce a child’s ability to wake and respond to a full bladder. When children sleep with their mouths open, they may:

Spend less time in deep, restorative sleep
Wake up dehydrated or with a dry mouth
Experience poor oxygen intake, leading to restless sleep
Struggle to control their bladder during the night

A 2013 study by Khaleghipour and colleagues found that children with sleep-disordered breathing who practiced breathing retraining had fewer episodes of bedwetting, supporting the link between breathing and bladder control.

More recent research also shows that mouth breathing is closely linked to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). A 2024 study of Indonesian children aged 8–9 found that 41% of mouth breathers showed signs of SDB, compared to just 9.7% of nasal breathers. This highlights how common breathing issues are in children, and how easily they can be overlooked. Poor sleep from mouth breathing doesn’t just affect bladder control; it can also leave children tired, less focused at school, and more irritable during the day.

Common Signs of Mouth Breathing in Children

Watch for these signs if you suspect your child may be mouth breathing:

Dry mouth or chapped lips when waking up
Snoring or labored breathing during sleep
Restlessness or frequent waking at night
Morning fatigue or poor focus during the day
Nasal congestion, especially during allergies or colds
Preference for sleeping with the mouth open

Tongue Posture and Why It Matters

Tongue posture means where the tongue rests when the mouth is closed. Ideally, it should sit against the roof of the mouth, just behind the front teeth. Many mouth breathers develop a low tongue posture, where the tongue rests at the bottom of the mouth. This can:

Reduce support for the airway during sleep
Increase the chance of the mouth falling open at night
Affect jaw growth, dental health, and even facial development

Therapies that retrain tongue posture, known as orofacial myofunctional therapy, have been shown to improve nasal breathing and, in some cases, reduce bedwetting linked to poor sleep and breathing.

Recent research also shows that children with adenoid problems and oral breathing can see improvements in jaw and dental development after only a few months of early treatment (Xie & Ma, 2025). This highlights why supporting good tongue posture and nasal breathing matters not only for sleep and bedwetting, but also for healthy facial growth.

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Why Mouth Breathing Might Happen

Although nasal breathing is ideal, children sometimes resort to mouth breathing because of:

Nasal congestion from allergies or colds – see how allergies and bedwetting are linked
Enlarged adenoids or tonsils
A deviated septum or small nasal passages

Mouth breathing can be a short-term solution, but if it becomes a habit, it may disrupt sleep and bladder control.

How Does Nose Breathing Differ from Mouth Breathing?

Both the nose and mouth provide a way to breathe, but they serve different functions.

Nose breathing:

Filters out dust and allergens
Warms and moistens the air for easier oxygen use
Produces nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels and improves oxygen circulation
Supports lung health, dental development, and jaw growth

Mouth breathing:

Dries out the mouth, causing bad breath and higher risk of gum problems
Bypasses the nose’s natural filters, exposing the lungs to more allergens and bacteria
Increases risk of snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, and jaw or dental changes

What You Can Do To Support Nasal Breathing

Here are some practical, non-invasive steps parents can try at home:

Clear nasal passages with saline sprays, rinses, a humidifier, or gentle steam.
Encourage nasal breathing during the day. Remind your child to keep lips gently closed and breathe through the nose while reading, playing, or relaxing.
Encourage side-sleeping to help keep the mouth closed at night.
Support tongue posture. Tools like a myo straw or structured tongue-training programs can help strengthen muscles and encourage the tongue to rest against the roof of the mouth. Try calm breathing techniques like the Buteyko Method. These exercises not only teach nose breathing but also include effective nasal-clearing techniques. Families often find they work quickly, helping children breathe more easily through the nose, which can improve sleep, reduce restlessness, and support bladder control. Learn more about the Buteyko Method here.
Limit fluids and bladder irritants close to bedtime.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your child continues to mouth breathe despite trying at-home steps, or if they experience symptoms such as chronic snoring, restless sleep, or ongoing nasal congestion, it may be time to consult a healthcare provider. Conditions like enlarged tonsils or adenoids, allergies, or dental issues can all contribute, and in some cases, surgery may be recommended. Learn more about how enlarged tonsils and adenoids affect bedwetting.

Can Mouth Breathing Continue After Surgery?

Yes. Even after tonsil or adenoid surgery, some children continue mouth breathing if tongue posture, nasal obstruction, or habits are not corrected. Surgery can clear the airway, but it does not always restore normal nasal breathing patterns.

A 2020 study in European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology found that children with risk factors such as older age, larger adenoids before surgery, or dentofacial abnormalities were significantly more likely to keep mouth breathing even after adenotonsillectomy. This shows why supporting healthy breathing habits afterwards is so important for long-term improvement.

Conclusion

Mouth breathing and bed wetting are often linked, but many families don’t realise how much of an impact breathing, sleep, and tongue posture can have. Supporting nasal breathing gently can lead to better sleep, more energy, and fewer wet nights.

If your child still wets the bed and shows signs of mouth breathing, these insights could make a real difference. The Stay Dry at Night program offers practical tools and guidance to help you address bedwetting causes step by step.

References

Khaleghipour S, Masjedi M, Kelishadi R. The effect of breathing exercises on nocturnal enuresis in children with sleep-disordered breathing. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2013;15(11):e8986.
Somuk BT, Yılmazer R, Korkmaz H, et al. Impact of adenotonsillectomy on ADHD and nocturnal enuresis in children with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Am J Otolaryngol. 2016;37(1):46-51.
Li H, Chen D, Xu Z, et al. Risk factors for residual mouth breathing after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnea. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;277(5):1489-1496.
Santos-Silva R, Costa JR, Pereira AJ, et al. Mouth breathing and sleep-disordered breathing in school children. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2024;16:15-24.
Xie L, Ma Y. Adenoid hypertrophy and oral respiration: effects on maxillofacial growth and early orthodontic treatment. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2025;49(3):173-181.
Ma Y, Xie L, Wu W. The effects of adenoid hypertrophy and oral breathing on maxillofacial development: a review of the literature. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2024;48(1):1-6.
Ahlat EM, Ertuğrul F, Baydaş B, Ersin N, Ghabchi B. Effect of adenoid hypertrophy on growth development levels and dental maturation: a 15-year retrospective radiographs study. BMC Oral Health. 2025;25:1266.

Ginny Laver

Ginny Laver BA (Hons), MSc, NLP, Dip. THP is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner who specialises in helping children learn how to stop bedwetting naturally.

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