SW Dallas News

• Mouth breathing can lead to dental issues, including gingivitis and cavity development.
• As many as 60% of adults breathe through their mouth.
• Procedures such as a balloon sinuplasty or endoscopy can help a patient to breathe better through their nose.

Dallas physician Dr. Monty Trimble, of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, explains that mouth breathing and sinusitis can lead to other health issues and affect your quality of life.

"I've had patients with everything from ulcers to burning tongue syndrome to dry mouth or other types of mouth complaints," Trimble told SW Dallas News. "And over time, I began to realize that the people who have persistent issues almost always were the people that were breathing through their mouth at night."

According to Healthline, mouth breathing can dry out the month, leading to an environment ripe for the formation of gingivitis and cavity development.

“We're supposed to breathe through our nose, because the nose is a filtering mechanism and also warms the air,” Trimble explained. “The mouth is really not made for that purpose. The saliva in the mouth is very good at preventing infection and helping to heal things in the mouth, but when we begin to open our mouth when we breathe in a dysfunctional way, the mouth dries out and it's harder for things to heal.”

According to KTM Yoga, people should be breathing through their noses most of the time, but reported up to 60% of adults frequently breathe through their mouths. The hair and mucus in the nose serves as a filter to trap bacteria and dust, and nasal breathing also boosts the intake of oxygen and brain activity. The benefits of breathing through the nose include regulating airflow, which widens blood vessels and slows the heart rate, resulting in a feeling of calm.

“Then as a mouth dries out, it can be more irritating and people can develop these types of conditions,” Trimble said. “That's why I think, for all health, it's very important to breathe normally through the nose. That way at night, our mouth is closed and not open."

People who suffer from chronic sinus issues or allergies frequently breathe through their mouths, which can lead to oral issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. By breathing this way, people end up drying their saliva, setting the foundation for the growth of bacteria and plaque on teeth. This can lead to gum disease, cavities and chronic bad breath. Breathing through the mouth on a regular basis over extended periods of time also can lead to snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils, strained jaw joints and an increased susceptibility to airway issues, such as asthma.

WebMD reports that people who battle chronic sinusitis have options, including balloon sinuplasty and endoscopy. During an endoscopy procedure, doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nasal passages and view the cavity on a screen, providing a view of obstructions and using instruments to remove blockages, including scar tissue and polyps. While the procedure requires a local anesthetic, there are no incisions and the recovery period is relatively quick.

A newer treatment option is balloon sinuplasty, during which a doctor inserts a tube with a small balloon into the nasal passages and guides it the blocked area. It is then inflated to clear the passage, allowing the sinuses to drain and reducing congestion.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.