Mouth-breathers will often hear others complain about their breathing, but is it bad to breathe through your mouth?
There are several reasons why people sleep breathing through their mouth, but it can be concerning.
Why is mouth breathing bad? And what can you do about breathing through your mouth?
Read on to find out.
What Causes Mouth Breathing?
Even those of us who typically don’t suffer from mouth breathing may turn into mouth breathers when we are sick or dealing with other issues. Here are some of the most common causes for those who consistently breathe through their mouths:
- Allergies
- Chronic colds
- Sinus conditions
- Asthma or other chronic breathing issues
- Deviated septum
- Inflamed tonsils or adenoids
- Improper jaw and tooth development (could be due to thumb-sucking behaviors in youth)
- Cysts or polyps in the throat, sinus, or airway
- Birth abnormality including cleft lip and palate
Is it Bad to Breathe Through Your Mouth?
Many people wonder, “is it bad to breathe through your mouth?” Overall, consistently breathing through your mouth is bad. There are many potential negative health effects from mouth breathing including:
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent cavities
- Bad breathe
- Brain fog
- Daytime sleepiness
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Difficulty swallowing
- Increases chances of airway complications
- More frequent sinus infections
Why is Mouth Breathing Bad?
There are many oral health and whole-body problems that may arise from mouth breathing. For one, breathing through the mouth dries up your saliva, which is crucial for your oral health. The saliva neutralizes acidic plague, but when you dry it up with mouth breathing it cannot do its job to address plaque buildup.
When sleep breathing through their mouth, people hold their jaw open for long periods of time. Keeping the jar open can strain the joints and lead to other painful issues that require orthodontic intervention or oral surgery.
Treatment Options from an Experienced Dentist in Quincy and Norwell
Treatment for mouth breathing depends on the underlying cause. Some treatments will require the intervention of a doctor to help with asthma or allergies. However, if the cause is related to your jaw and teeth, a dentist in Quincy & Norwell, MA can help.
Our experienced team at Advanced Dental Arts will help you get to the bottom of your mouth breathing. If your oral health plays a role, we are here to help. Schedule your appointment to get started today.