Child Mouth Breathing and Nasal Blockage: Could Enlarged Adenoids Be the Cause? It is a scenario familiar to many parents across East London and Essex: you look over at your child while they are watching television or deeply asleep, and notice their mouth is constantly open. They seem to struggle to breathe quietly through their nose, their sleep is heavy and noisy, and they sound permanently congested—even when they don't have a cold. When over-the-counter allergy syrups and nasal sprays fail to clear the blockage, parents frequently contact their GPs in search of answers. Chronically open-mouthed breathing is rarely just a habit; it is typically a sign of a physical upper airway obstruction. This guide explores why persistent nasal blockage happens in children, the role of enlarged adenoids , and the localised private care pathways available to help your child breathe easy. The Hidden Obstruction: What are Adenoids? While parents can easily spot swollen tonsils at the bac...
What is tongue-tie or ankyloglossia? Tongue-tie is a condition present in 5%-10% of newborn babies at birth. In this, a band of tissue called frenulum is shorter than usual. This leads to in some babies tip of the tongue is more attached to the floor of the mouth. When is tongue-tie a problem? When a baby is breastfeeding he or she has to catch on to the nipple and cover the gums to avoid trauma to the nipple. If a baby has tongue-tie, it may take longer to feed, leaving them hungry and unsettled. This can also lead to sore nipples. Is tongue-tie hereditary? Tongue-tie can run in families and is more common in boys. Do we need to treat all tongue-tie? Not all tongue tie cases need treatment — most of the babies' tongue-tie stretch with time. In babies, if there are feeding and breastfeeding problem, leading to growth delay, surgery may be required. In younger babies, it can be done with or without local anaesthesia. In older children, it can lead to speech ...