When is it OK to breathe through your mouth?
Breathing gives your body the oxygen it needs to survive. It also
allows you to release carbon dioxide and waste.
The nose and mouth are the two passageways that lead to your
lungs. Healthy people use both their nose and their mouth to breathe.
When you have nasal congestion due to allergies or a cold, you
must breathe through your mouth. Mouth breathing can also aid get oxygen to
your muscles faster when exercising hard.
Even so, breathing through the mouth, including when you're
sleeping, can lead to problems.
Mouth breathing can cause crooked teeth, facial deformities, or
poor growth in children. Chronic mouth breathing in adults can lead to poor
breath and gum disease. It can also worsen the signs or symptoms of other
illnesses.
What are the advantages of breathing through your nose?
When you have a terrible cold, the importance of your nose often
goes unnoticed. A stuffed nose can harm your quality of life. It can also
affect your ability to sleep well and function in general.
The nose produces nitric oxide, which improves your lungs' ability
to absorb oxygen.
Nitric oxide increases your body's ability to transport oxygen,
including inside your heart. It relaxes vascular smooth muscle and allows blood
vessels to dilate.
Nitric oxide is also antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and
antibacterial. It helps the immune system in the fight against infection.
How do I know if I am breathing through my mouth?
You may not realize that you're breathing through your mouth
instead of your nose, especially while sleeping. People who breathe through
their mouths at night may have the following symptoms:
- snoring
- dry mouth
- bad breath (halitosis)
- hoarseness
- waking up tired and irritable
- chronic fatigue
- brain fog
- dark circles under the eyes
Symptoms in children
For parents, it's essential to look for signs of mouth breathing
in their children.
A child may not be able to communicate their symptoms. Mouth
breathers, like adults, will snore at night since they breathe with their
mouths open. Children who breathe through their mouths for most of the day may
also have the following symptoms:
- slower than the normal growth rate
- irritability
- increased crying episodes at night
- large tonsils
- dry, cracked lips
- problems concentrating at school
- daytime sleepiness
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or hyperactivity are often
misdiagnosed in children who have difficulty concentrating at school.
What causes mouth breathing?
The underlying cause of most cases of mouth breathing is an
obstructed (wholly blocked or partially blocked) nasal airway.
In other words, something prevents the smooth passage of air into
the nose. If your nose is blocked, the body automatically resorts to the only
other source that can provide oxygen — your mouth.
There are many causes of a blocked nose. These include:
- Allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection can cause nasal congestion.
- enlarged adenoids
- enlarged tonsils
- deviated septum
- nasal polyps, or benign growths of tissue in the lining of your nose
- enlarged turbinates
- the shape of the nose
- the shape and size of the jaw
- tumors (rare)
Even when the nasal obstruction has cleared, some people develop a
habit of breathing via their mouth rather than their nose. To accommodate their
need for oxygen, some people with sleep apnea may develop the habit of sleeping
with their mouths open.
Anxiety and stress can lead people to breathe through their mouth
rather than their nose. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system leading
to shallow, rapid, and abnormal breathing.
What are the risk factors for mouth breathing?
Anyone can develop a habit of breathing through their mouth, but
certain conditions increase your risk. These include:
- chronic allergies
- hay fever
- chronic or recurring sinus infections
- asthma
- chronic stress and anxiety
How is mouth breathing diagnosed?
For mouth breathing, there is no single test. During a physical
examination, a doctor may detect mouth breathing by examining the nostrils or
during a visit to determine what's causing persistent nasal congestion. They
may ask about sleep, snoring, sinus problems, and difficulty breathing.
If you have poor breath, cavities, or gum disease, a dentist may
diagnose mouth breathing during a normal dental examination.
Suppose a dentist or doctor notices swollen tonsils, nasal polyps,
and other conditions. In that case, they may refer you to a specialist, like an
ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, for further evaluation.
Can mouth breathing lead to health problems?
Mouth breathing is very drying. When the mouth is dry, bacteria
cannot be washed away by saliva. This can lead to:
- bad breath (halitosis)
- periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis and tooth cavities
- throat and ear infections
Low oxygen concentration in the blood can be caused by mouth
breathing. High blood pressure and heart failure are linked to this disease.
Studies show mouth breathing may also decrease lung function and worsen
symptoms and exacerbations in people with asthma.
Mouth breathing in children can cause physical issues as well as
cognitive difficulties. Children who aren't treated for mouth breathing can develop:
- long, narrow faces
- narrow mouths
- gummy smiles
- dental malocclusion, including a significant overbite and crowded teeth
- poor posture
Additionally, children who breathe through their mouths often
don't sleep well at night. Sleep deprivation can lead to:
- poor growth
- poor academic performance
- inability to concentrate
- sleep disorders
How is mouth breathing treated?
Treatment for mouth breathing depends on the cause. Colds and
allergies can cause nasal congestion; treated with medication. These
medications include:
- nasal decongestants
- antihistamines
- prescription or over-the-counter steroid nasal sprays
Adhesive strips applied to the nose bridge can also help to
breathe. A nasal dilator is a stiff adhesive strip placed across the nostrils
to help reduce airflow resistance and allow you to breathe more easily through
your nose.
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will most likely
have you wear a continuous positive air pressure therapy (CPAP) mask at night
(CPAP).
A CPAP appliance delivers air to your nose and mouth through a
mask. The pressure of the air keeps your airways from collapsing and becoming
blocked.
Swollen tonsils and adenoids can be removed surgically in children
to treat mouth breathing.
A dentist might also recommend that your child wears an appliance
designed to widen the palate and help open the sinuses and nasal passages.
Braces and other orthodontic treatments might also help treat the underlying
cause of mouth breathing.
What is the outlook for mouth breathing?
Treating mouth breathing in children early can reduce or prevent
the negative effect on facial and dental development. Energy levels, behavior,
academic performance, and growth improve in children who have surgery or other
treatments to reduce mouth breathing.
Tooth decay and gum disease can result from untreated mouth
breathing. Mouth breathing causes poor sleep, lowering your quality of life and
exacerbating stress.
How to prevent mouth breathing
It's not always possible to avoid chronic mouth breathing caused
by the shape of your face or nose.
You may take steps to avoid making mouth breathing a habit if your
nose is frequently congested due to allergies or respiratory illnesses. It's
good to deal with nasal congestion or dryness as soon as possible. Tips for preventing
mouth breathing include:
- using a saline mist during long flights or cruises
- At the first sign of allergy or cold symptoms, use saline nasal mists and sprays and nasal decongestants or allergy reliever medications.
- Sleep on your back with your head up to open up the airways and enhance nasal breathing.
- keeping your house clean and free of allergens
- To limit the spread of allergens in your home, put air filters in your air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
- During the day, consciously practice breathing through your nose to help you develop a nose breathing habit.
If you're experiencing stress or anxiety, it may help to engage in
yoga or meditation practice.
Yoga is beneficial for people who breathe through their mouths due
to stress because it focuses on deep breathing through the nose.
Restorative yoga is designed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote slower, deep breathing through the nose.