Take a deep breath. Did you notice how that felt, or more importantly where your breath came from? As humans, we are designed to do most of our breathing through our noses. But depending on certain conditions, nasal issues, and/or even mask-wearing, mouth breathing is becoming more prevalent.
Breathing out of your mouth may not seem like a problem, but mouth breathing can create some concerns for your dentist in terms of your oral and overall health.
Why Nose Breathing is Best
Breathing through your nose produces nitric oxide, which helps improve your lungs’ ability to absorb oxygen.
Nitric oxide can have many positive effects on your body which include:
- Increasing the ability to transport oxygen.
- Relaxing vascular smooth muscles and allows blood vessels to dilate.
Other benefits of nasal breathing are:
- Blocking out small particles such as dust, pollen and pollution
- Adding moisture to the air you breathe and helps to prevent the lungs and bronchial tubes from drying out.
Why Mouth Breathing Can Be a Problem
If you or your child is mouth-breathing often, it can be tricky to break, as most of the time it is formed out of habit. Although it can be caused by: persistent allergies, chronic nasal obstructions, overlarge tonsils, or a deviated septum.
Mouth breathing can quickly dry out the mouth and lead to decreased saliva production. Saliva is extremely important for neutralizing acid and helping to wash away bacteria. Without it, the chance of tooth decay and cavities increases. A dry mouth can also lead to bad breath and other serious concerns, such as gum disease.
Working with your dentist can help you find some solutions to control your mouth-breathing, and potentially prevent any harmful side effects. They may suggest you try out a rinse to help ease your dry mouth, increase your dental hygiene frequencies, or even recommend mouth-tape that can be used to stop mouth-breathing while you sleep.
Call us to book a dental exam so we can help identify the cause, and ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.
