If you’ve ever had a stuffy nose, you know what a pain it can be when you can’t breathe through it. During times like that, you may have had to breathe through your mouth instead. While not ideal, mouth-breathing every now and then is not a serious issue. But what happens when it becomes an all-of-the-time habit?
- Dry mouth: We’ve talked about it before but saliva is crucial to a healthy mouth. Without saliva, your body is unable to wash away harmful bacteria that breed inside your mouth. Mouth breathing dries out the mouth and keeps your body from producing much-needed saliva.
- Decreased oxygen levels: Breathing through your mouth is not an efficient way to take in oxygen as nose breathing. Without enough oxygen, your body will start to feel lethargic with little to no energy.
- Gum disease: The bacteria that mouth breathing allows to run rampant in your mouth can sneak into your gums, leading to gingivitis and possibly even advanced gum disease. This is a condition that can cause loose teeth, bleeding gums, and system health problems. It may even contribute to the development of heart disease.
The best way to fix mouth breathing is to find out what is causing you to not be able to breathe through your nose. If you have been breathing through your mouth for quite some time, give us a call today so we can examine your mouth and let you know what effects your mouth breathing has had. Then, you’ll receive treatment that will help to preserve that beautiful smile of yours.