Mouth Breathing is more then just an annoying habit or a facial expression. Mouth breathing can happen without even knowing you are! Myself, never did I consider this to be something I did! I had many signs such as daytime fatigue, during cardio workouts it became harder for me to catch my breath, waking with dry mouth, tired after hours of "sleep" and I would use the bathroom during the night. I thought it was the new 40's for me. My tongue was not in the correct spot and it was affecting my overall health!
WHY WOULD SOMEONE MOUTH BREATHE?
Most common cause of mouth breathing or an open mouth are:
Allergies and/or Food Sensitivities
Enlarged Tonsils or Adenoids
Respiratory Infection
Asthma
Deviated Septum
Nasal Polyps
Each of these make it physically impossible for a person to nasal breathe, which means that the only choice is to breathe through their mouth.
THE TONGUE
Mouth breathing changes how the tongue naturally rests in the mouth and how the tongue functions when swallowing.
Your tongue should naturally rest in the top of your mouth. However, when your mouth is open it rests at the bottom. This leads to underdeveloped oral musculature and causes problems with speech, swallowing, breathing, and chewing. When the tongue rest low in the mouth, it must push forward to swallow, also known as tongue thrust.
Tongue thrust and mouth breathing always go hand in hand, so if you are mouth breathing, you also have a tongue thrust swallowing pattern.
Believe it or not, breathing through your mouth can actually change the shape of your face and alter your appearance. Children are growing and have an advantage to changing their growth easier than an adult. Children whose mouth breathing is not corrected may suffer from abnormal facial and dental development.
Symptoms of untreated mouth breathing include long narrow face and mouths, less defined cheek bones, small lower jaw, crooked teeth, gummy smiles, week chin, smaller airways, and tired eyes.
A “mouth breather” facial expression is typically not seen as an attractive or desirable appearance.
Using the mouth for breathing alters our natural body mechanics and leads to symptoms such as:
Headaches
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Sore Throat and Cold Symptoms
Bad Breath
Increased Risk Dental Cavities
Sleep Disordered Breathing
Digestive Issues-gas, upset stomach, acid reflux, etc.
In children, mouth breathing has been linked to poor growth and weak academic performances as well as ADD and ADHD symptoms. In adults, it has been connected to high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea, and other medical issues.
Mouth breathing leads to postural changes and spinal issues. When the tongue is in the wrong position, the head tends to rest forward, causing shoulders to slump. When the mouth is open it’s more difficult to sit up straight.
Myofunctional therapy is instrumental in helping you to retrain your muscles so they function naturally in their proper healthy way. Breathing naturally to sustain your optimal health. My goal is to help my client’s nasal breathe, keep their tongue in the proper spot, maintain lips together, and swallow properly. These adjustments will improve your overall health and quality of life! Contact me today for your FREE 30 minute consult to see if I can help you be a healthier you!
This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is being provided to you to educate you about oromyofunctional health and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not medical advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgement. For my full disclaimer, please go to myooralhealth.com