Mouth Breathing Effects on Teeth, Bad Breath & Oral Health
While many individuals don't pay much attention to how they breathe, breathing mainly through the mouth can have more significant consequences on your oral health than you may be aware of.
This chronic mouth breathing problem can lead to a number of complications like dry mouth, bad breath, accumulation of plaque on the teeth, and in some cases, change in the dental malocclusion and jaw.
In today's blog, we shall explore how this happens, who might be vulnerable to such problems, how mouth breathing affects your teeth, breath, and facial structures, and how you can safeguard your smile.
📑 Table of Contents
Understanding Mouth Breathing and Its Effects on Oral Health
What is Mouth Breathing and Who Is More Likely to Experience It?
According to Cleveland Clinic, mouth breathing happens when you typically breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. It can be both a voluntary or involuntary condition and is influenced by numerous factors such as:
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Allergies, cold, or sinus problem that causes the blockage of the nose, thereby making nasal breathing hard
- Enlarged tonsil or adenoids, which limit breathing through the nose, forcing one to breathe using the mouth
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Deviated septum that influences how well air passes through the nose
- Breathing issues during sleep that can lead to mouth breathing
Although mouth breathing is more common among children, it is still possible for an adult to develop chronic mouth breathing.
Can Mouth Breathing Damage Your Teeth?
One can easily detect the condition of mouth breathing from its typical symptoms like dry mouth, snoring, and bad taste or odor upon waking up. According to WebMD, dry mouth and snoring are two of the most common indicators of mouth breathing in individuals.
Even though occasional mouth breathing is not an issue, regular mouth breathing may affect your oral health negatively. The first and foremost consequence of this is a reduced amount of saliva production that keeps the mouth healthy.
The lack of saliva means that your mouth is unable to cleanse itself like it does normally. This could lead to the development of oral diseases if you do not seek treatment for mouth breathing.
Can Mouth Breathing Cause Bad Breath and Plaque Buildup?
Regular mouth breathing when neglected tends to develop into a condition known as chronic mouth breathing, which causes your mouth to be dry frequently and for prolonged periods of time.
Having a dry mouth makes conditions favorable for the growth of bacteria, as there will be less saliva to help eliminate food particles and keep the bacteria from multiplying. Bacteria that grow in large amounts tend to emit a foul odor, causing bad breath.
Bacteria combined with food debris and saliva have the potential to form a film on the teeth known as plaque, which can cause a host of oral diseases when left unchecked.
If you'd like to dive deeper into how dehydration affects your teeth, read this next: Can Dehydration Make Bad Breath Worse Than You Think?
Can Chronic Mouth Breathing Change Your Teeth and Jaw Over Time?
How Mouth Breathing Affects Teeth and Jaw Development
Apart from affecting a person's breathing pattern, mouth breathing can bring about other changes such as those related to the development of teeth and facial structure.
A study published in Frontiers in Public Health found that long-term mouth breathing may affect jaw growth, bite, and teeth alignment.
Can Mouth Breathing Affect Adults?
Although the effects of mouth breathing can be more profound in early stages, adults are not immune to the condition’s effects. Another research found that most older adolescent and adult participants had already completed most of their facial growth, meaning major changes to the face and jaw were less likely later in life.
Nevertheless, the condition of mouth breathing among adults is associated with various dental health problems, including dry mouth, halitosis, and plaque formation.
Need to learn more about what the smell of your breath is trying to tell you? Read this next: Bad Breath Explained: Causes, Symptoms & Quick Fixes
Protect Your Smile by Managing Mouth Breathing Early
Early management of mouth breathing may be beneficial to your oral hygiene. Hydration, proper oral hygiene practices, and any treatment to the possible causes like congestion of your nose and breathing problems will help minimize its effect on your teeth and gums.
Having a clean and properly fitted night guard when you sleep is another step in ensuring good dental hygiene. ClearClub's Cleaning + Whitening Foam will guarantee that your night guard will stay free from any accumulation of bacteria brought about by mouth breathing. Protect your teeth with ClearClub now.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can mouth breathing cause dry mouth?
Yes. Mouth breathing allows moisture to escape faster, which can reduce saliva flow and leave your mouth feeling dry. Over time, reduced saliva can increase the risk of bad breath, plaque buildup, and cavities.
❓ Can a night guard cause mouth breathing?
A properly fitted night guard should not cause mouth breathing. However, an uncomfortable or poorly fitting guard may affect comfort while sleeping and should be checked or replaced if needed.
❓ Is mouth breathing while sleeping bad for your teeth?
Yes. Sleeping with your mouth open can contribute to dry mouth overnight, allowing bacteria to multiply more easily and increasing the risk of bad breath and plaque buildup.
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