Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Flip

Original poster

Trying for years to get DD to close her mouth when she eats

14 replies

stirling · 14/05/2020 13:24

To no avail. Sorry if this seems like a petty issue but I'm at my wits end. She's nearly 13 and eats her food in a peculiar way, she almost chews her food with her tongue rolling forward from time to time.
In the last 4 years I've tried to remind her to close her mouth at each meal, but she's still struggling.

Ds and I just get regular flashes of mushy food in her mouth while we're eating and I worry about her taking this into adulthood.

Constant reminders are not working. Any other suggestions?
Thank you

OP posts:

SnuggyBuggy · 14/05/2020 13:27

It may take her peers pointing it out before she changes

Imnotaslimjim · 14/05/2020 13:29

Sounds daft but could she have a breathing issue that hasn't been picked up? If she can't breathe through her nose properly, eating with her mouth open may be her only option

If that isn't a problem, reminding her every single time is about the only way

Original poster

stirling · 14/05/2020 14:14

Thank you both. Interesting, I wonder if it is a breathing problem. She mostly keeps her mouth closed and then flashes her tongue once or twice with every mouthful....

OP posts:

niveaessential · 14/05/2020 16:16

is she aware she's doing it? if she isn't and this might sound odd but have her rest her fingers against her mouth when she's eating, she'll realize what she's doing with her tongue and stop

Original poster

stirling · 14/05/2020 20:41

Thanks nivea I'll try it! She's not aware till we point it out and I must admit we've become acutely aware of it since sharing three meals a day together during lockdown!

OP posts:

Papatron · 17/05/2020 09:14

My son had/has this problem. He is 12 now and after about 5 years of nagging he has improved a lot but still often forgets and chews with his mouth open. Also linked to him not really enjoying food and he just crams it in his mouth rather than taking the time to cut it into smaller, more manageable pieces 😡. He is interested in girls these days so I have pointed out to him that they will find it revolting if they can see what he is chewing so that may have helped. Also not helping at the moment that the dining table is my office in lockdown so everyone has to eat off their lap instead of a proper table. Table manners have gone out of the window.

sashh · 17/05/2020 09:19

Sounds daft but could she have a breathing issue that hasn't been picked up? If she can't breathe through her nose properly, eating with her mouth open may be her only option

I was about to say this. I was always in trouble for this and I used to try really hard not to breath when cheming, but of course it's not possible.

Eventually I got nose drops that cleared it up.

I know it sounds odd but I didn't 'know' people could breath through their nose when eating.

IndigoSkye · 17/05/2020 09:21

I was like this a s a child, I still remember being nagged by my mum and really hating it. I then got tonsillitis and it wouldn't go and it turned out I had particularly large tonsils which were preventing me from breathing through my nose especially when I was eating. I still often sit with my mouth open and breathe through my mouth more through habit. I'm in my 40s and still have to think to make sure I close my mouth when eating. However it's never caused me any problems. I suspect she doesn't do this on purpose and am not sure how effective nagging her to keep her mouth shut will be.

saffy1234 · 17/05/2020 09:23

Hi @stirling my daughter does this and it was due to a breathing issue
Her nose is constantly bunged up so she was taking breaths ,she is currently under ENT having investigations.Does your DD snore a lot,mine does and that's what prompted me to wonder about her breathing.My DD is 12 ,13 in July

saffy1234 · 17/05/2020 09:23

I forgot to mention my daughters tonsils are large too

nicky7654 · 17/05/2020 09:24

My Granddaughter is the same and I believe it's because her tonsils are huge causing breathing issues while eating.

chunkyriverfish · 17/05/2020 09:24

I would film her so she can see what you mean, I think eating is something we do without really thinking when we are with family, but maybe if she sees what it looks like it may help her to understand why it looks so bad.

Redleathertrousers · 17/05/2020 14:41

I did this forgetfully/lazily as a young teen without realising how rude it was. My relatives used to point how disgusting it was to watch and tell me to 'shut your mouth!!' and that taught me to stop pretty quickly! May sound harsh but the shock of the embarrassment worked.

Original poster

stirling · 17/05/2020 19:24

Hi thanks again everyone. I might take her to the docs after lockdown to check ENT issues but as her mouth is mostly closed with just one flash of tongue (and contents) I'm not sure.

OP posts:

Flip