What Is Mouth Breathing and How Is It Treated?

Breathing is a normal involuntary bodily function that ensures that your organs and muscles receive oxygen essential for your survival. Breathing through the nose is the most ideal since this has a positive impact on your body. Even though everyone breathes through the mouth once in a while, it shouldn’t be a norm. This indicates that you need mouth breathing treatment since there are overall health implications.

It is understandable to breathe through the mouth when exercising strenuously since this would get oxygen to your muscles faster. However, when this happens all the time, even when you are sleeping, you will have to come to our sleep clinic in 95610 to get checked by our sleep doctor.

Nose Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing

Even though there are instances when mouth breathing may seem necessary, nose breathing is the most preferred method. This is because the nose and the mouth process air differently. These biological differences help the body to function as it should.

Here are the perks of breathing through the nose as compared to the mouth:

• Filter Toxins

Your nose has tiny hair-like structures known as cilia that act as a filter that keeps debris and toxins from entering your body. They will send them to the throat instead of your lungs. On the other hand, breathing through your mouth directs everything to your lungs.

• Senses Smell

You can smell the harmful substances in food or the air, whereas your mouth cannot detect these toxins effectively.

• Controls Temperature

The air that enters your lungs shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. Your nose will cool or warm the air that is getting in your lungs. But, if you have a block caused by chronic rhinitis or a deviated septum, then your nose will be unable to control the temperature of the air that goes into your lungs. On the contrary, mouth breathing is unable to do this.

• Humidifies

You need to breathe in air with some humidity, so nose breathing humidifies the air you breathe in. However, with mouth breathing, this isn’t possible. Hence, the reason why you will have a sore throat or a dry mouth when you breathe through your mouth.

How Can You Know If You Are Mouth Breathing?

If you are used to mouth breathing, it could be difficult for you to realize how often you do it, especially if you do it while sleeping. Some of the things you need to peel your eyes for are:

• Snoring
• Hoarseness
• Feeling tired
• Irritability
• Bad breath
• Brain fog
• Dark circles around the eyes

If you notice this, you will need to talk to our sleep doctor near you to get tested to ascertain whether you breathe through your mouth.

In children, mouth breathing may be noticed if your child exhibits the following symptoms:

• Large tonsils
• Irritability
• Slower growth rate than usual
• Daytime sleepiness
• Dry and cracked lips
• Increased crying episodes at night
• Trouble concentrating at school

What Are the Causes of Mouth Breathing?

In most cases, nasal congestion would be the leading cause of mouth breathing. Your nose can be blocked due to:

• Nasal allergies
• Enlarged adenoids (tissue in the back of your throat)
• Enlarged tonsils
• Deviated septum
• Nasal polyps
• Tumors
• The shape or size of your jaw
• The shape of your nose

However, some people may develop the habit of mouth breathing without necessarily having nasal obstructions. This can be because they have sleep apnea since they need to sleep with their mouths open to aid their breathing.

Other conditions such as asthma, hay fever, chronic allergies, chronic stress, and anxiety can increase the risk of mouth breathing.

Health Issues Related to Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing can reduce the amount of oxygen your body needs to function. This has been associated with heart failure and high blood pressure. Also, it has been linked to decreased lung function and worsens the symptoms of people with asthma.

You can also be at risk of developing periodontitis, bad breath, tooth decay, throat, and ear infections.

Also, if your child is mouth breathing when they sleep, it can lead to poor sleep; hence there can be poor growth, inability to concentrate, and sleep disorders.

What Is the Treatment for Mouth Breathing?

Mouth breathing treatment is based on the cause of the problem. This would mean that if your mouth breathing is caused by nasal congestion, there are medications that can be used to open the airways.

If it is obstructive sleep apnea, our sleep doctor near you can help treat you to stop mouth breathing while you are asleep.

Therefore, if you have mouth breathing, visit our sleep clinic in 95610, Sacramento Natural Dentistry.