Do you always seem to be suffering from some sort of allergy or sinus infection? Is snoring keeping you up at night? You could be mouth-breathing. This might not seem like a pressing problem, but professionals have linked serious negative effects to this condition. Mouth-breathing can even affect your oral health!
Fortunately, this means that there is something you can do to alleviate your symptoms. Keep reading to learn how your dentist can help.
Chronic Mouth-Breathing: More Than an Exercise Response
Chronic mouth-breathing doesn’t just occur when you’re congested. It’s when you use your mouth to get oxygen more than your nose. Usually when this happens, an underlying condition like a deviated septum or asthma is preventing your nose from passing enough air through your airways. To compensate, you subconsciously start relying on your mouth to breathe.
Mouth-Breathing Symptoms That Might Explain a Lot
This subtle shift in how you breathe has a surprising list of consequences. Here are some discomforts you might experience:
- Restless sleep
- Frequent snoring
- Cotton mouth
- Chronically dry lips
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Excessively noisy eating
When it comes to your oral health, the two symptoms you’ll want to pay attention to the most are dry mouth and restless sleep.
Why Less Saliva is Bad for Your Teeth
Inhaling through your mouth dries out your oral tissue, decreasing your saliva flow. Spit might be thought of as a gross and rude bodily fluid, but it actually helps clean your teeth! As it passes over and soaks your teeth, it washes away some harmful bacteria. This is why individuals with chronically low saliva have an increased risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
How Mouth-Breathing Interrupts Your Sleep
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder most commonly caused by airway obstruction. For a brief moment, this obstruction stops you from breathing – so naturally your brain gives you a start! You might not wake up fully, but you’ll definitely be pulled out of a sleep layer or two and miss out on a full REM cycle.
What does that have to do with mouth-breathing? Well, this unconscious habit can cause your tongue to fall back against your palette, either causing or worsening your sleep apnea symptoms!
What Your Dentist Can Do to Help
Believe it or not, your dentist can help with both of these harmful mouth-breathing effects. For your increased risk of dental conditions, visit your dentist for checkups and cleanings at least biannually – possibly more. They’ll compensate for low saliva with their professional-grade cleaning equipment. For a better night’s rest, ask them about oral appliance therapy. This mouthguard-like device will help push oral tissue away from your airways while you sleep. Patients often see improvements after their very first night!
Mouth-breathing is a complicated issue with a variety of symptoms and potential causes. It’s best to get your general medical team involved so they can give you a solid diagnosis, but your dentist can help alleviate some of your immediate discomforts and safeguard your oral health. With so many people on your side, you can conquer chronic mouth-breathing!
About the Author
Dr. Thomas A. Gromling is proud to have served the Stephens City area for 40 years – and counting! His practice is like a second home, and his patients are like family. He also has advanced training in sleep apnea treatment. Basically, you won’t find a more loyal or qualified dentist for your oral mouth-breathing solutions! To contact his office, call 540-869-4377 or visit his website for more information.