Breathing: A Human Need

Who breathes better: the mouth breather or the nasal breather?  Breathing is a fundamental physiological process that plays an important role in how you feel and how well your body functions. The breathing process is an exchange of gases from the outside environment to the inside of your body. When you breathe, oxygen travels from your lungs into the bloodstream and then into the red blood cells. The red blood cells then carry the oxygen to the body’s tissues and cells. Your body functions better when it utilizes oxygen proficiently. Both mouth breathing and nasal breathing deliver air to the lungs, but not all breathing is created equal.

Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing is considered to be abnormal and is a symptom of a deeper problem. It can begin when enlarged tonsils and adenoids, swollen nasal turbinates, allergies, sinus infections, inflammation or structural deficiencies block or reduce airflow through the nasal airways. Mouth breathing can also develop in the presence of prolonged sucking habits (such as thumb, pacifier, blanket, tongue, object), nail biting, or tongue tie. Even if the underlying cause of mouth breathing is corrected, the habit of mouth breathing may remain and can lead to changes in muscular function, posture, and even facial skeletal changes that can set the stage for a whole host of other health problems down the road. Here’s how:

• The tongue should rest up against the palate, which helps to naturally expand the palate and broaden the nasal airway as we grow. If the nasal airway is not wide enough or is obstructed in some way, we resort to mouth breathing.
• When you breathe through your mouth, the jaw drops down, the tongue rests low in the mouth, and the back of the tongue falls back into the airway, increasing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring
• When the tongue is in the airway, the head moves forward to widen the airway and allow for better breathing. This stresses the cervical spine and leads to excessive tension in the neck and shoulder muscles as well as to changes in the swallow pattern.
• Mouth breathing results in reduced oxygen absorption, which can effect your sleep, stamina, and energy levels. Breathing through your mouth allows you to exhale large amounts of carbon dioxide. This slows the transfer of oxygen into the red blood cells that transports the oxygen throughout your body and can lead to feelings of tiredness and fatigue.
• Breathing through the mouth can lead to swollen tonsils and an increased likelihood of contracting respiratory tract infections.
• Other symptoms of mouth breathing may include crowded teeth, cavities, swollen gums, sore throat, digestive issues, dry mouth, morning headaches, bad breath, and more.

Nasal Breathing

Your nose has many important jobs that go far beyond your sense of smell!

• Your nose warms, filters, and humidifies the air you breathe.
• As air enters the nasal cavity it mixes with nitric oxide, a substance produced in the nasal sinuses that is not only antibacterial and antiviral but also is responsible for a whole lot of other wonderful things!  The more you breathe through your nose the more nitric oxide that is produced.
• An increased amount of nitric oxide in your bloodstream increases your aerobic capacity and insulin sensitivity, decreases blood pressure, and helps regulate your body functions such as heart rate, digestion, mood, sleep cycle, fluid balance, immune function, and reproduction.
• Nasal breathing helps your diaphragm to work properly, increases oxygen uptake, and helps improve circulation.
• Breathing through the nose, with your tongue against the roof of your mouth and your lips sealed, provides the proper support for the jaw and promotes proper function of the muscles of the tongue, lips, face, and throat.

We don’t often think about how we breathe because the body does it automatically, but it’s important to be aware that not all breathing is created equal. Nasal breathing is, by far, a better and more efficient way to breathe! Your myofunctional therapist can help you get to the root of your mouth breathing habit and help you to achieve proper breathing and proper oral function to help set you back on the path to wellness!