Is Your Mouth Breathing Affecting Your Smile? How Breathing Habits Impact Oral Health

Dec 31, 2024 | Blog Posts

Is Your Mouth Breathing Affecting Your Smile? How Breathing Habits Impact Oral Health

Most people naturally breathe through their noses. However, other people develop a habit of mouth breathing.

Mouth breathing may seem harmless, but it can significantly impact oral health. Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can lead to various dental issues, including tooth decay and dry mouth.

Although breathing with an open mouth is occasionally necessary, like when you have a cold, routinely doing it may cause you to notice damage throughout your oral cavity. Understanding how this can affect your dental health may make you feel more motivated to correct the habit.

What Is a Mouth Breather?

A mouth breather inhales through an open mouth instead of through their nose. This can change the structure of their face and cause sleep disorders that impact their daily lives.

For some, it is a bad habit that develops, but for others, it can be caused by various factors, including:[1]

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Enlarged tonsils
  • Enlarged adenoids
  • Nasal polyps
  • Deviated septum
  • The shape of the nose
  • The shape and size of the jaw
  • History of thumb sucking

Some people suffer from chronic nasal congestion due to allergies or chronic sinusitis that blocks the nasal passages. Nasal breathing isn’t an option for these people, so they must breathe through their mouths.

Symptoms of Mouth Breathing

Because most of the time your body regulates breathing without out actively thinking about it, While breathing is a mostly an unconscious process, you may not realize you breathe through your mouth, especially when sleeping. However, you can look for the signs, including the following:[1]

  • Dry mouth
  • Crowded teeth
  • Dry, cracked lips
  • Snoring
  • Bad breath
  • Large tonsils
  • Brain fog
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Daytime sleepiness

Sleeping with an open mouth can increase your risk of sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea. This habit also reduces the amount of oxygen you inhale, contributing to sleepiness and brain fog.[1]

Oral Health Conditions Related to Mouth Breathing

Regardless of the reason for your mouth breathing habit, it can significantly impact your oral and overall health.

Cavities

Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health.[2] Without it, a mouth becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that lead to adverse oral health conditions.

Mouth breathing often leads to cavities because dry mouths have a reduced saliva flow. This increases the risk of tooth decay, especially when combined with poor oral hygiene.

Gum Disease

Because a mouth breather often has a dry oral cavity, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria. It makes you more vulnerable to gingivitis and periodontitis. Without treatment, gum disease can lead to gum recession, loose teeth, and tooth loss.

Bad Breath

A dry mouth can also lead to chronic bad breath. Without enough saliva to keep the mouth clean, bacteria build up and can cause an odor to develop. This odor can impact social interactions and self-confidence.

Orthodontic Issues

Open-mouth breathing can contribute to numerous orthodontic problems. Some problems include open bite, a narrow palate, or misaligned teeth, which require orthodontic treatment to correct.

Treatments for Mouth Breathing

The first step in treating this condition is to consult a healthcare professional, like a dentist, for help identifying the underlying cause. How mouth breathing is treated depends on why you’re not breathing through your nose. For example, a patient with a cold or allergies can treat the issue with over-the-counter medicine or prescription nasal sprays.

Some issues, such as enlarged adenoids and tonsils, may require surgery to help treat open-mouth breathing. If your condition is caused by sleep apnea, you have multiple options to help keep your airway open. You may wear a face mask connected to a continuous positive air pressure therapy (CPAP) machine or an oral appliance called a mandibular advancement device (MAD).

Practicing good oral hygiene at home and having regular dental cleanings help manage the problems caused by mouth breathing. Getting a professional cleaning every six months keeps plaque under control. Brushing and flossing twice daily in between dental visits is also vital.

Some patients may even need nasal breathing training. This training includes breathing exercises and techniques that help you learn to breathe through the nose again.

Seek an Evaluation for Your Breathing Habit

Mouth breathing is something you should take seriously. From dry mouth to chronic bad breath, this habit can cause numerous dental issues, and treatment is necessary. The best way to find out how to treat your condition is by visiting a reliable dentist.

If you think you may be a mouth breather, talk to the dental team at Albion Family Dentistry. Contact us at 585-589-9044, and we’ll help you get to the root of the problem.

 

Sources:

[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22734-mouth-breathing

[2] https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/saliva