Mouth Breathing is a More Serious Issue Than You Thought

The hit Netflix series Stranger Things may have rekindled the derogatory term “mouth breather” that’s been in and out of use since 1915, but what you might not know is there’s a lot of science around mouth breathing and none of it has to do with intelligence. It does, however, have a lot to do with a person’s oral and overall health.

Mouth breathing is not something you or any child should do (even when sleeping) except when exercising hard or if you happen to have a stuffed nose due to an illness or allergies.

For developing children who commonly breathe through their mouths, it can be detrimental and lead to issues such as:

• An elongated face

• A forward open bite

• Crooked or crowded teeth

• Poor jaw structures

• Droopy eyes

• Dark shadows underneath the eyes

• Narrow nostrils

• Less room for tongues

• Gaping lips

• Dry lips

• A narrowed upper lip

• Sleep apnea 

Many of the issues listed above also affect adults, such as sleep apnea. 

Mouth breathing may also dry out one’s mouth leading to bad breath, gum disease, tissue damage, and possible tooth decay as it changes the natural bacteria in your mouth. It can result in lower oxygen concentration in the blood which is associated with high blood pressure and heart failure. 

Depending on how you search online, 70-90 percent of people breathe incorrectly. This impacts our structural development and can lead to poor concentration, poor sleep, bed wetting, and headaches in kids. And when they grow up they turn into adults with a less correct structure.

What does this all have to do with The Houston Dentists? Not only can we help determine if you are a mouth breather, we can also help you with many of the factors listed above. 

Whether it’s with clear aligners to help straighten your teeth or an oral appliance to help with sleep apnea (which can lead to cardiovascular disease and more) or to fix tooth decay, eradicate gum disease, correct tissue damage, and much more, our highly skilled dentists are here for you. Our entire team is involved in helping you with your overall body health which is just one of the ways our dental office is like none other in the area. Contact us today for a consultation to find out more.