Related to Mouth Breathing
What is mouth breathing?
Mouth breathing refers to breathing performed predominantly by the mouth, using the nose little or not at all. Mouth breathing is the body's way of correcting or compensating for some dysfunction.
Can mouth breathing cause damage?
Yes! Studies have shown that mouth breathing can cause or lead to several issues or problems in oral and facial structures and their function. These issues or problems with oral and facial structure and function can cascade into other aspects of our lives, including sleep, feeding, learning, hearing, and speech. Mouth breathing allows bacteria and viruses to get in unchecked, whereas nasal breathing has a built-in immune defense.
How does one identify a person who breathes through their mouth?
It would best to consult an ENT, myofunctional therapist, or allergist; however, common characteristics are nasal congestion, parched lips, and lip pigment changes. Additionally, the appearance of a large tongue, forward head posture, dark under-eye circles, sagging cheeks, wheezing, and snoring are also shared.
What can cause mouth breathing?
allergic rhinitis
bronchitis
enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or turbinates
weakness or low tone of facial muscles that may lead to open mouth rest posture
habits such as thumb sucking
tumors in the region of the nose
nose fractures
other causes
How can mouth breathing cause changes to the structure of the mouth and face?
Keeping an open mouth posture can significantly impact breathing and facial composition. Open mouth breathing may cause dry and chapped lips; short or fast breathing; diminished strength of the muscles of the lips, cheeks, jaw, and tongue; a lowered and more anterior oral rest posture of the tongue, leading to changes in aesthetics and position of teeth/occlusion (improper fit of the teeth); elongated face, retruded mandible, and palate (roof of the mouth) becoming narrower and deep. Finally, after years of mouth breathing, mouth wrinkles and "sad smile" lines around the mouth can develop.
What are key issues that may be caused by mouth breathing during sleep?
When sleeping with the mouth open, a person may have some characteristics: restless sleep, snoring, headaches, drooling on the pillow, thirst when waking up, morning sleepiness, sleep apnea (breathing interruptions during sleep), and decreased oxygen saturation in the blood.
What are the main disadvantages to learning caused by mouth breathing?
Sleep disturbances that have been previously explained can generate agitation, anxiety, impatience, decreased alertness, impulsiveness, and discouragement. All of these changes can cause difficulties with attention, concentration, memory problems, and subsequent learning difficulties in children, causing some to be erroneously diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. During the critical periods of a child's development, mouth breathing can be more detrimental to learning.
