Mouth Breather vs Nose Breather: Understanding the Differences
Breathing through the nose is a natural instinct that we are born with. Our bodies are oxygenated differently when being a mouth breather vs nose breather. When using the nose to breathe in and out, our bodies are able to take in and use 20% more oxygen.
This article will outline the differences between mouth breathing vs nose breathing and explain why those differences are so important.
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Mouth Breather vs Nose Breather: How Humans Should Breath
Breathing through your nose allows your body to take in more oxygen with every breath. Breathing in and out of the nose triggers the lower lung region to distribute more oxygen throughout the body.
As you can imagine, this is much better for your body and your health overall. Some of the benefits of nose breathing are:
- Your nostrils and sinuses filter the air while warming and humidifying it.
- Increased airflow to arteries, veins, and nerves improving circulation.
- Aiding and supporting the immune system
- Lowering your risk of hay fever and allergies
- Supporting the development of facial bones and muscles that leads to the correct formation of teeth and mouth.
As you can see, the differences between being a mouth breather vs nose breather are actually quite substantial. Humans are meant to breathe through our noses and can reap many benefits by doing so.
Common Causes of Mouth Breathing vs Nose Breathing
There are several reasons why people develop mouth breathing vs nose breathing habits. It can happen during development as a child or later on in life as an adult. Discovering why you are a mouth breather vs nose breather is the first step to fixing the issue.
Common causes of mouth breathing are:
- Enlarged Adenoids and Tonsils: Adenoid glands and tonsils are located in the back of the mouth. When swollen or enlarged, the body compensates by mouth breathing.
- Deviated Septum: This occurs when the septum leans towards one side and blocks the nasal airflow.
- Nasal Congestion: Chronic congestion associated with illnesses or allergies blocks the nasal passageway and leads to mouth breathing.
- Birth Abnormalities: Certain birth abnormalities like cleft palate, choanal atresia, and Pierre Robin syndrome can interfere with airway and breathing habits.
- Tongue Tie: Having a tongue that is tethered in the mouth more than usual will restrict tongue movement and placement. This interferes with jaw and airway positioning.
The Risks of Being a Mouth Breather vs Nose Breather
Your body is designed to breathe in and out through your nose. Using your mouth as the main source of breathing can negatively impact your body. Being a mouth breather vs nose breather can influence your body and health in the following ways:
- Facial Abnormalities & Deformities: During development, mouth breathing can lead to facial structures forming a narrow face, crooked nose, droopier eyes, and a smaller airway. All these can increase the chances of future respiratory problems.
- Poor Sleep Quality: Breathing through your mouth while sleeping causes decreased levels of blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body. This triggers the brain to change adrenaline and cortisol levels to compensate and affecting the quality of sleep.
- Speech Impediments: Breathing through the mouth can interfere with speech and tongue movement. Lisps, slurs, and articulation issues are common with mouth breathers.
- Improper Posture and Muscle Fatigue: Mouth breathers carry their heads further forward than nose breathers to compensate for the restrictive airway. This always places tension on the chest muscles involved with breathing. This can lead to TMJ disorders, neck and back pain, spinal disc compression, and early arthritis.
- Systemic Diseases: Breathing through your nose produces Nitric Oxide which dilates the blood vessels and improves blood flow. Low Nitric Oxide levels are associated with heart disease, stroke, heart attacks, erectile dysfunction, digestive issues, dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Poor Oral Health: Breathing through your mouth decreases saliva flow. Saliva has minerals to help neutralize bacteria, clean off the teeth, and rehydrate the tissues. Without it, your risk of gum disease and cavities increases.
Treatment Options for Mouth Breathing vs Nose Breathing
Luckily, mouth breathing vs nose breathing has some very effective treatment options. If you find that you are a mouth breather vs nose breather, then it’s a good idea to contact your dentist or doctor and see which treatment might be best for you.
Here are the most common treatment options for mouth breathing:
- Mouth Tape: Placing a strip of mouth tape over the lips will prompt the body to keep the mouth close and breathe through the nose while sleeping.
- Optimal Sleeping Positions: Keeping the head elevated with a pillow and laying on the back while sleeping will open up the airways and promote nasal breathing
- Orthodontics: Intervention with braces can expand the roof of the mouth and align the teeth to open up the airway. For more information on braces options, check out our Comprehensive Braces Guide.
- Adenoidectomy: This surgical procedure removes enlarged and infected adenoids to promote opening up the airway.
- Tonsillectomy: Similar concept to an Adenoidectomy, removing infected and enlarged tonsils will open up the airway.
- Septoplasty: Repairing deviated septums through surgery can alleviate pressure, open up the nasal passageways, and promote nasal breathing.
Recommendations for a Mouth Breather vs Nose Breather
The best recommendation we can give is to reach out to your dentist or doctor and talk to them about your concerns. If you find yourself mouth breathing vs nose breathing often, then you’ll want to do your best to have the issue fixed.
There are several treatment options available, but you’ll need to first figure out why you are a mouth breather vs nose breather. Once you have the answer, you can choose the best treatment option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mouth breathers less intelligent?
Breathing through the mouth does not have any impact on the IQ. Mouth breathers vs nose breathers are less oxygenated while sleeping decreasing their sleep quality. This can interfere with attention associated with learning and memory.
Are there any benefits to mouth breathing?
No. There are no proven benefits associated with breathing through the mouth over breathing through the nose.
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