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Mouth-breathers may often hear others complain about their breathing, but is it bad to breathe through your mouth?
There are several reasons why people breathe through their mouth, but it may be concerning.
Why might mouth breathing be problematic? And what can you do about breathing through your mouth? Dr. Nathaniel Chan explains the potential concerns and treatment options.
Read on to find out.
What May Cause Mouth Breathing?
Even those of us who typically don’t experience mouth breathing may become mouth breathers when we are sick or dealing with other issues. Here are some of the common potential 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 (may 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 may be problematic. There are many potential negative health effects from mouth breathing including:
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent cavities
- Bad breath
- Brain fog
- Daytime sleepiness
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Difficulty swallowing
- May increase 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 may dry up your saliva, which is crucial for your oral health. The saliva neutralizes acidic plaque, but when you dry it up with mouth breathing it may not be able to do its job to address plaque buildup.
When breathing through their mouth, people hold their jaw open for long periods of time. Keeping the jaw open may strain the joints and lead to other painful issues that may require orthodontic intervention or oral surgery.
Treatment Options from an Experienced Dentist in Norwell, MA
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 Norwell, MA may be able to help.
Dr. Nathaniel Chan and our experienced team at Advanced Dental Arts can help you evaluate your mouth breathing. If your oral health plays a role, we are here to help. Schedule your appointment to get started today.
