Breathing is a vital body process because it allows us to get the oxygen we need to live. Despite this, a great majority of people are not doing it correctly. Your mouth and nose are the air passages to your lungs, and healthy people use both to breathe. You may breathe via your mouth during severe exercise to assist oxygen reaches to your muscles faster. Still, mouth breathing regularly (especially while sleeping) can cause various health problems. So, what is mouth breathing, how is it diagnosed, and how is it treated?
Mouth breathing is breathing through the mouth instead of the nose, often during sleep. Humans are born with the ability to breathe through their noses. The abdomen softly extends and contracts with each expiration and inhalation during “regular” breathing. Breathing is regular, silent, and, most crucially, through the nose, requiring little effort. This allows an individual’s nasal passages to moisten and warm the air they need to inhale. Some people, however, breathe primarily via their mouths, known as mouth breathing. It’s usually loud, moves faster than usual, is punctuated by sighs, and involves noticeable upper chest motions. Some people breathe nearly entirely through their mouths, while others may have a medical condition (such as sleep apnea) that causes them to breathe mainly through their mouths at night. Mouth breathing is usually divided into three categories:
Adenoids (a patch of tissue high up in the throat, immediately behind the nose) or a badly deviated nasal septum are frequently connected with this (The nasal septum splits your two nostrils and separates the right and left airways of the nasal cavity).
Habitual mouth breathing continues after a blockage clears, because the body keeps breathing the way it learned to.
A malformation in the airway channel and improper breathing can result in postural difficulties and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea needs a medical evaluation; see the NIH’s NHLBI page on sleep apnea.
Snoring, waking with a dry mouth, bad breath, and fatigue are common mouth breather signs. It’s difficult to tell if you breathe via your mouth, especially if it happens at night. These are some of the signs that you may have developed a habit:
If this describes you, speak with your doctor. There isn’t a straightforward test to diagnose it, but your doctor can perform a series of tests to see if you’re breathing through your lips.
Various circumstances can cause mouth breathing, but the most common cause is a closed (or partially or entirely blocked) nasal airway. Something is obstructing the smooth passage of air into the nose. If this occurs, our bodies will instantly turn to the other source of oxygen, which is our mouths. Anxiety and stress can induce people to breathe through their mouth rather than their nose when the sympathetic nervous system is activated, resulting in shallow, fast, and irregular breathing. Other diseases, such as sleep apnea, can cause you to breathe through your mouth while sleeping. When you have a sleep apnea episode, you stop breathing. This causes your brain to panic, which causes you to snore loudly while your body seeks air. These experiences may lead to a habit of mouth breathing to ensure that your body receives enough oxygen.
Mouth breathing dries the mouth, which raises the risk of cavities and gum inflammation. It also lowers saliva and can cause bad breath. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids, so a dry mouth loses its main defense against decay.
The ADA’s MouthHealthy page on dry mouth lists sugar-free gum and rinses as ways to restore moisture. A dental cleaning and exam helps catch early damage; see the bad breath solutions guide.
You can try these solutions to stop mouth breathing:
Remember to breathe through your nose. But it’s unlikely that your inability to breathe effectively is due to a lack of understanding about recommended respiratory procedures. Instead, your issue will most likely be putting the method into practice. However, the only way to succeed at anything is to practice.
Even if it appears clear, many people breathe through their mouths because their noses are obstructed. Use a saline nasal rinse to clear mucus from your nasal passages. For more on congestion, see MedlinePlus: Stuffy or runny nose – adult.
When you’re stressed, you rush to take a breath. As a result, you’re more prone to forget to take deep breaths with your nose in stressful situations. Stress reduction improves your breathing regardless of whether you need to consult a doctor or adjust your environment.
If you have trouble stopping breathing through your mouth as you fall asleep, consider changing the height of your head concerning the rest of your body. Invest in a thicker-filled cushion for your head.
Regularly exercising on a daily journey or run will enhance your demand for deep breaths, and steady nasal breathing during exercise helps retrain the habit. Do you want to learn more about nasal breathing? For additional information, give us a call!
Yes, mouth breathing is bad for your teeth because it dries the mouth. Less saliva means less protection for enamel against acids and bacteria.
Yes, mouth breathing can cause bad breath. Bacteria grow faster when the mouth stays dry overnight.
Yes, mouth breathing can be fixed in most cases. Treat the nasal blockage first, then retrain the habit with nasal breathing practice.
A physician or ENT specialist should check the airway, and a dentist the teeth. The dentist looks for dry-mouth damage to teeth and gums.
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