Mouth breathing is defined as habitual breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. A study in the United Kingdom estimated that about 30-50% of adults are mouth breathing, especially earlier in the day.
If you often wake up tired and groggy, no matter how much you slept, and you have a habit of snoring and waking up with a dry mouth, you may be a mouth breather. This may be causing more harm than you realize. While it may appear to be a harmless habit, breathing through your mouth can have serious health risks.
In this article, we will look at four scientifically supported reasons why mouth breathing is bad for you. So, if you’re a chronic mouth breather, keep reading to find out why you should think about changing your habits.
Mouth breathing can lead to several oral health issues.
Mouth breathing can be harmful to your oral health because it causes saliva to dry out, which can lead to plaque buildup and an increased risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. Chronic mouth breathing, which is often caused by upper airway obstruction, can lead to a variety of dental problems, including bruxism, jaw joint disorders, tooth erosion, misalignment, and impacted teeth. It is important to fix mouth breathing as soon as possible in order to avoid these costly and uncomfortable dental issues.
You can have the so-called “Mouth Breathing Face”
This habit can also have an adverse effect on your facial structure, resulting in a long, narrow face, a set-back jawline, poorly defined cheekbones, and other issues. These changes may cause self-esteem issues in the long run if not resolved. According to other studies, mouth breathing can result in crooked teeth, a receded jaw, and Temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This is referred to as a “mouth-breathing face,” which can be remedied through proper tongue posture and nasal breathing. To avoid more severe facial structure problems, it is critical to break the habit of mouth breathing and keep the lips sealed.
It can result in poor quality of sleep.
Breathing through your mouth while sleeping can reduce the quality of your sleep by causing sleep disorders such as snoring, sleep apnea, and hypopnea, which can cause daytime fatigue. Many people are also unaware that this can lead to physical and mental health issues such as poor job performance, accidents, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, those who have sleep apnea are more likely to develop hypertension, diabetes, weight gain, cardiac arrhythmia, and cardiovascular disease. To avoid these serious consequences and achieve restful, restorative sleep, it is critical to address mouth breathing.
It worsens asthma symptoms.
This habit does not only has an impact on oral health, facial structure, and sleep quality. It can also worsen asthma symptoms. Research says it may significantly raise asthma morbidity by increasing sensitivity to inhaled allergens. This emphasizes the value of addressing mouth breathing within the framework of the “one airway, one disease” concept. Furthermore, studies have shown that mouth breathing can reduce lung function and aggravate symptoms and asthma attacks in people who already have the condition. Hence, it can cause physical abnormalities and cognitive challenges in children with asthma.
In conclusion, addressing mouth breathing is critical for maintaining good oral health, maintaining correct facial structure, improving sleep quality, and preventing asthma complications. Individuals can reduce its negative impact on their overall health and well-being with treatment, which may include lifestyle changes and possibly medical interventions.
