We often hear advice like “breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth” in yoga classes or while running around Waterfront Park. But how often do you think about your breathing in day-to-day life? You may be surprised to learn that how you breathe—whether through your nose or mouth—can impact your health.
Let’s explore the benefits of nose breathing versus mouth breathing, common reasons why you might have trouble breathing through your nose and what you can do to relieve congestion for easier, healthier breathing.
How Is Breathing Through My Nose Beneficial?
Your nose is lined with tiny hairs called cilia that filter out allergens, pollution, germs, insects and other debris to help keep you healthy. In addition to filtering out debris, the structure of your nose helps warm up and moisten air as you breathe in, making it easier for your throat and lungs to absorb the air.
When you breathe in through your mouth, you not only miss all the protective benefits nose breathing offers, but you may also risk dry mouth, bad breath, drooling at night and malocclusion (a condition where the upper and lower teeth don’t align).
What Can Cause Mouth Breathing?
A few common reasons you may be more inclined to breathe through your mouth include:
- Illness. When your nose is clogged with mucus as a result of allergies, a head cold or a sinus infection, it can be hard or impossible to breathe through it, leading to mouth breathing.
- A deviated septum. A crooked nasal passage can prevent the proper flow of mucus from your nose, leading to congestion and mouth breathing.
- Inflamed adenoids. Your adenoids are glands that sit above the roof of your mouth and behind your nose. When the body fights infection, the adenoids can become inflamed, leading to congestion and mouth breathing. Luckily, adenoids tend to shrink around age five and disappear by adulthood. Although they might cause congestion in your child, they’re not likely to be the source of mouth breathing in adulthood.
How To Prevent Mouth Breathing
You learn to breathe through your nose the moment you’re born. If you find yourself or your child breathing through the mouth, there’s likely an underlying cause. If you’re experiencing other symptoms like sinus pressure, allergies or chronic congestion, it’s best to make an appointment with your ENT provider to find and treat the underlying cause.
If you haven’t noticed any other symptoms, mouth breathing may be just a habit. In this case, breathing exercises focused on actively breathing through the nose can help you kick the habit.
If you’re having trouble breathing through your nose, contact Charleston ENT & Allergy today to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted experts for diagnosis and treatment.