Mouth breathing, or inhaling and exhaling through the mouth, can lead to a variety of medical problems, especially for children. Training yourself to breathe through your nose may help ward off health problems and increase your blood oxygenation.
Effects of Mouth Breathing
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, or AGD, mouth breathing is often a problem for allergy sufferers, who experience airway obstruction during allergy season and are unable to breathe through their noses. Mouth breathing can lead to poor oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, which can lead to more serious medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea and other sleeping problems.
Dangers of Mouth Breathing in Children
Mouth breathing can be especially detrimental in children, who may suffer abnormal facial and dental development as a result. Left untreated, mouth breathing may lead to narrow faces, crooked teeth or gummy smiles. The AGD also reports that children who breathe through their mouths typically have sleeping problems, which can lead to poor academic performance and is often misdiagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. In a 2009 study performed at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, mouth breathers experienced higher rates of poor bite and misalignment of teeth.
Benefits of Nasal Breathing
Breathing through the nose delivers oxygen to the lungs more efficiently, reports dentist Steven Sue on his website Nosebreathe.com. This allows oxygen molecules to travel more freely to different cells in the body. Nasal breathing can reduce the need for medication in asthmatic patients and help reduce high blood pressure, or hypertension. Nasal breathing also draws air into the lower lobes of the lungs, which helps calm the mind and energize the body, reports Yoga Journal. In a study conducted by John Douillard, author of "Body, Mind and Sport," athletes demonstrated lower breathing rate, heart rate and exertion when practicing nasal breathing during workouts.
Treatment for Mouth Breathing
The AGD reports that dentists are often more likely to notice the effects of mouth breathing because they typically see patients more often than regular physicians. If the mouth breathing results from swollen tonsils or adenoids, the doctor may recommend having these surgically removed. Dentists can also use devices to help open nasal passages.
Nasal Breathing Exercises
Yoga breathing exercises, known as pranayama, may also help correct mouth breathing. According to website Yoga Journal, yoga can help relieve stuffy, clogged nasal passages. Pranayama also teaches you to breathe deeply and can improve your blood oxygenation. Try exercises such as alternate nostril breathing, in which you inhale through one nostril, exhale through the opposite nostril, then repeat on the other side. Begin with three to five rounds and gradually increase over time. Also try Kapalabhati breathing, also known as skull brightener breath, in which short, explosive exhales are followed by passive inhales.
References
- Academy of General Dentistry: Mouth Breathing Can Cause Major Health Problems
- "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology"; "Prevalence of Malocclusion Among Mouth Breathing Children--Do Expectations Meet Reality?"; Souki et al; 2009
- NMB: Nose Breathing Research
- Yoga Journal: Going the Distance
- Yoga Journal: Breathe Easy
