In your quest to achieve and maintain optimal oral health, you may not have considered the effect of your breathing. The truth is that mouth breathing — a common issue, especially during sleep — can have a significant impact on not just your oral health, but your jaw and facial development, as well.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the causes of mouth breathing, its effect on oral health and development, and how to recognize and address it.
The Basics of Mouth Breathing
Breathing through your mouth isn’t usually a conscious choice; it occurs when you can’t breathe through your nose, whether it’s due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a deviated septum, or a chronic stuffy nose. Mouth breathing can also occur due to stress and may be habitual.
In most cases, people develop mouth breathing problems as children, potentially leading to lifelong oral and systemic health problems, including dry mouth, tooth decay, sleep disorders, and facial development issues.
While the air makes its way to your lungs no matter whether you breathe through your nose or mouth, there are significant differences between the two methods. When you breathe through your nose, the cilia — tiny hairs inside your nose — filter out pollutants and allergens. Breathing through your mouth doesn’t offer the same protection from debris.
Additionally, your throat and lungs function better with warm, moist air. When air goes through your nose, it warms up until it’s closer to the temperature of your body, which makes it easier for your tissues to absorb. The air you take in through your mouth is colder and drier.
The Impact of Mouth Breathing on Oral Health
Mouth breathing has a negative impact on oral health, creating an environment in which bacteria can thrive and disrupting the mouth’s natural cleaning processes.
Dry Mouth
One of the biggest complaints from those who breathe through their mouths — especially at night — is dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. When your mouth hangs open for long periods of time, it dries out, and your body isn’t able to produce enough saliva to keep up with the increased demand.
Saliva plays a crucial role in oral health. It rinses away harmful bacteria, keeping your mouth clean and preventing plaque formation. Without it, you’re at risk of tooth decay, cavities, and tartar buildup.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Mouth breathing inhibits saliva production, which allows bacteria and plaque to flourish in the mouth and creates an acidic oral environment. This can cause tooth decay (cavities), potentially leading to complications such as abscesses, broken teeth, chewing problems, debilitating pain, and even tooth loss.
A lack of saliva can also lead to gum disease, which may escalate to periodontitis if left untreated. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that can lead to gum recession, swelling and bleeding gums, chronic bad breath, and even destroy the bone supporting your teeth, causing them to loosen or fall out.
Effects on Jaw and Facial Development
Mouth breathing can also affect the shape of the face and jaw. Individuals who developed mouth breathing problems as children often have an elongated or narrow face shape that doesn’t have enough room for the teeth or tongue. They may also have gummy smiles, retruded chins, poor posture, and constricted airways.
Because of these developmental issues, there is a significant link between mouth breathing and malocclusion, which occurs when the upper and lower teeth don’t align properly, necessitating orthodontic work as children grow older. Breathing through your nose, on the other hand, causes your tongue to fill the palate space and promotes proper forward growth of the jawbones, ensuring that the teeth have enough room.
Recognizing and Addressing Mouth Breathing
It’s important to recognize and address mouth breathing early. If you or your child struggles with dry lips, bad breath, or waking with a dry mouth, consult with a dentist or orthodontist. Potential treatments include using a humidifier, taking nasal decongestants, or orthodontic devices. Structural issues, such as a deviated septum, may need to be addressed through surgery.
At Eric Felt DDS, we are dedicated to ensuring our patients have a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles. With our wide range of dental services, we can give you the quality dental care you deserve. If you need help addressing your mouth breathing, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
