Mouth Breathing

The Overlooked Epidemic Making You Sick

A comment I came across recently (on the topic of mouth breathing) really put this issue into perspective. It's mind blowing to think a large percentage of the population are living in this reality have no idea that airway issues are the root cause to many of their health problems.

"I'm 28 years old now and I was a mouth breather my whole life. Because of that, I never got into deep sleep phases. Without good quality sleep, I was unable to focus, didn't have adequate levels of oxygen and energy in my body, and felt irritable all the time. Most of the time I was depressed and anxious and my life seemed to be only a burden. My face didn't develop properly. I also have sleep apnea and I can't really sleep. Mouth breathing slowly kills you and it makes your life extremely miserable. I had creative impulses since I was a kid but as I grew, I couldn't express my potential because I never knew that I had to breathe through my nose. I lack the energy necessary to accomplish my goals and I feel like I can't offer something to the world I live in. We tend to admire the people who have good looks and the necessary energy and sometimes we're trying to become as successful as they are but our miserable conditions never allow us to achieve that. 

 

You may be aware that mouth breathing is worse for you than nose breathing, but just how bad is it? Let’s take a deep dive into the science behind this unattractive habit and find out the extent of the damage it can do to your body.

Firstly, mouth breathing is associated with poor tongue posture. If you are mouth breathing you are likely not resting your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Resting the tongue on the roof of the mouth prevents the upper jaw from becoming narrow and the whole face from sinking down. So... what does mouth breathing actually do to you?

Weak Oxygen Delivery

You do get more air in a shorter period of time while mouth breathing, however, the air does not stay in your lungs as long as nose breathing. This means... weaker oxygenation of the tissues in the body (quicker fatigue, allergies, asthma, struggling during exercise).

Bad Breath, Dry Mouth and Sickness

While the mouth is open, saliva dries out. The self-cleaning function of the mouth is now lost - it now becomes a bacteria and acid breeding ground. If you wake up with a dry mouth, you could be mouth breathing.

Face Becomes Longer

Without your tongue pressed on the roof of your mouth, your upper jaw now has nothing to support it and prevent it from narrowing. This means... less prominent cheekbones, droopy eyes and finding it harder to nasal breathe.

 

Dental Crowding

The smaller the upper jaw gets, the less room there is for all 32 teeth to fit inside the mouth. Malocclusion occurs and they become crooked. This is not just a cosmetic issue, but a functional one due to bite and chewing problems.

Tiredness & Irritability

When the mouth is open, the tongue drops back towards the throat and partially blocks the airway. This causes snoring or sleep apnea. Poor sleep is the root cause of endless health conditions and negative effects.

The More You Mouth Breathe, The Harder It Gets To Stop

The less the nasal airway is used, the more constricted it becomes. This is a classic case of 'use it or lose it' - creating a downward spiral to worsened sleep problems over time.

There are many ways to address these airway issues:

  • Long term prevention measures such as mouth taping, and resting the tongue on the roof of the mouth
  • Orthodontic Expansion - EASE by Dr Kasey Li, MSE/Custom MARPE, FME, Tooth-borne Expansion Appliances such as Schwarz/Homeoblock/DNA
  • Myofunctional Therapy 
  • CPAP for Sleep Apnea
  • MMA (Maxillomandibular Advancement) Surgery
  • Nasal Surgeries (Septoplasty, Turbinate Reduction, Radiofrequency Turbinate Reduction)
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