Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s the Risk?At NightHow to StopTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What’s the Risk?
At Night
How to Stop
Treatment
Mouth breathing might not seem like a big deal, but it can take a toll on your health. It’s normal to breathe through your mouth, rather than your nose, sometimes—like when you have a stuffy nose.
However, the effects of mouth breathing regularly include increased risk for high blood pressure, dental issues, and respiratory issues. Sleeping with the mouth open can be dangerous, too, contributing to sleep apnea, snoring, and other sleep disturbances.
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Mouth breathing versus nasal breathingMost people breathe through their nose, and can comfortably breathe with their lips together and their mouth closed. Mouth breathing is defined as getting 25% or more of your air through the mouth rather than the nose.
Mouth breathing versus nasal breathing
Most people breathe through their nose, and can comfortably breathe with their lips together and their mouth closed. Mouth breathing is defined as getting 25% or more of your air through the mouth rather than the nose.
Mouth Breathing Effects: What’s the Risk?
Humans are meant to breathe through their noses. When you breathe through your nose, the hairs in your nose filter out debris from their air, and the air is also warmed and moisturized, which is good for your lungs. In addition, the air picks up nitric oxide when it moves through the nose, an important gas that gets into your system as air passes through the nasal passages. Overall, nasal breathing is the most efficient way to move oxygen into your body.
Mouth breathing, on the other hand, can dry out your mouth and allow dirt and other small particles into your airways. It can also contribute to major health concerns in the short-term and longer-term, in both children and adults.
Short-Term
In the short term, mouth breathing can lead to complications, including dry mouth and bad breath. If you sleep with your mouth open, you might snore, disturbing your or your partner’s sleep.
Long-Term
The real serious impacts of mouth breathing emerge in the long term. The impacts can include increased risk of:
Mouth Breather FacePeople who mouth breathe regularly, particularly as children, can experience structural changes to their face. This so-called mouth breather face features may lead to mouth breathing:A narrow faceSmaller nose and mouthA lower jaw that is set back compared to the upper jawHigher upper paletteTeeth that are crowded and crooked
Mouth Breather Face
People who mouth breathe regularly, particularly as children, can experience structural changes to their face. This so-called mouth breather face features may lead to mouth breathing:A narrow faceSmaller nose and mouthA lower jaw that is set back compared to the upper jawHigher upper paletteTeeth that are crowded and crooked
People who mouth breathe regularly, particularly as children, can experience structural changes to their face. This so-called mouth breather face features may lead to mouth breathing:
Understanding Mouth Breathing at Night
Most people who breathe through their mouths—especially at night—aren’t aware that they’re doing it. Still, it’s best to avoid mouth breathing at night since it can contribute to snoring and sleep disturbances.One of the most serious is sleep apnea.
In Sleep Apnea
Sleep apneais a condition where people temporarily stop breathing at night because their airway becomes blocked. Mouth breathing is associated with an increased risk for sleep apnea because mouth breathing narrows the upper airway, making it easier to block. The conditions also share some risk factors, like having a deviated septum.Sleep apnea is associated with a host of serious medical conditions, including:
Treating sleep apnea with a CPAP machinethat keeps the airway open can improve your health quickly.
To Stop Mouth Breathing, Try This
Changing from a mouth breather to a nose breatherisn’t easy, especially if you’ve been mouth breathing your whole life. However, it’s worth the effort since mouth breathing can really take a toll on your health.
Get to the Root Cause
Most people who breathe through their mouth do so for a reason. You might have allergies blocking your nasal passages, a deviated septum interrupting air flow, or even stress pushing you toward more rapid, shallow breaths through your mouth. Take some time to notice what’s contributing to your mouth breathing. Once you know what’s at play, you can help address it—for example, treating allergies that may be contributing.
Notice Your Patterns
Some people breathe through their mouths all the time, while others only mouth breathe at night. Notice which type of mouth breather you are. That can help you make changes that will be most impactful. For example, if you have astuffy nose that gets worse at night, using a humidifier might help.
Talk With Your Healthcare Provider
Talking with your healthcare provider can help you identify and treat causes contributing to your mouth breathing. Your primary healthcare provider is a great place to start, but you may also want to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist who can examine the structure of your airway.
Change Your Sleep Position
If you sleep flat on your back, you’re at a higher risk for mouth breathing and sleep apnea. Instead, try sleeping on your side or in a chair with your head elevated.
Do Therapy and Exercises
Myofunctional therapystrengthens the muscles around the airway. It is often used to treat sleep apnea and can help people who have issues with breathing or sleeping.
Try Nasal Strips
Nasal strips are used to widen the nostril, giving increased airflow. They haven’t been studied much, but some people report they help with mouth breathing, especially at night.
Treatment for Condition-Related Mouth Breathing
Summary
Mouth breathing can contribute to many serious health issues, from crowded teeth to narrowed airways to sleep apnea. If you or your child is a mouth breather, talk with your healthcare provider about how to address mouth breathing. Treating underlying health conditions (like allergies), doing breathing exercises, and changing your sleeping position can all help. Ultimately, learning how to breathe through your nose will help you get better sleep, and more oxygen throughout your body—which is critical to overall health.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lin L, Zhao T, Qin D, Hua F, He H.The impact of mouth breathing on dentofacial development: a concise review.Front Public Health. 2022;10:929165. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.929165Lörinczi F, Vanderka M, Lörincziová D, Kushkestani M.Nose vs. mouth breathing- acute effect of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16:42. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00840-6Lee YC, Lu CT, Cheng WN, Li HY.The impact of mouth-taping in mouth-breathers with mild obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study.Healthcare (Basel).2022;10(9):1755. doi:10.3390/healthcare10091755Sleep Foundation.Is sleeping with your mouth open bad?
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lin L, Zhao T, Qin D, Hua F, He H.The impact of mouth breathing on dentofacial development: a concise review.Front Public Health. 2022;10:929165. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.929165Lörinczi F, Vanderka M, Lörincziová D, Kushkestani M.Nose vs. mouth breathing- acute effect of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16:42. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00840-6Lee YC, Lu CT, Cheng WN, Li HY.The impact of mouth-taping in mouth-breathers with mild obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study.Healthcare (Basel).2022;10(9):1755. doi:10.3390/healthcare10091755Sleep Foundation.Is sleeping with your mouth open bad?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lin L, Zhao T, Qin D, Hua F, He H.The impact of mouth breathing on dentofacial development: a concise review.Front Public Health. 2022;10:929165. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.929165Lörinczi F, Vanderka M, Lörincziová D, Kushkestani M.Nose vs. mouth breathing- acute effect of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16:42. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00840-6Lee YC, Lu CT, Cheng WN, Li HY.The impact of mouth-taping in mouth-breathers with mild obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study.Healthcare (Basel).2022;10(9):1755. doi:10.3390/healthcare10091755Sleep Foundation.Is sleeping with your mouth open bad?
Lin L, Zhao T, Qin D, Hua F, He H.The impact of mouth breathing on dentofacial development: a concise review.Front Public Health. 2022;10:929165. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.929165
Lörinczi F, Vanderka M, Lörincziová D, Kushkestani M.Nose vs. mouth breathing- acute effect of different breathing regimens on muscular endurance.BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16:42. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00840-6
Lee YC, Lu CT, Cheng WN, Li HY.The impact of mouth-taping in mouth-breathers with mild obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study.Healthcare (Basel).2022;10(9):1755. doi:10.3390/healthcare10091755
Sleep Foundation.Is sleeping with your mouth open bad?
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