Do you breathe through your mouth? Or through your nose. You might think this doesn’t matter, but it does. In fact, it might be the reason why you have excessive cavities. Here, we’ll go over how mouth and nose breathing affects cavities, plaque, and tooth sensitivity.
Mouth Breathing and Cavities
Breathing through your mouth can be a big problem. In fact, it may lead to bad breath, the buildup of plaque, tooth sensitivity, and even rye mouth.
This is because cavity risk increases markedly when you breathe through your mouth. Whenever you do, it causes a drier mouth, leading to dry mouth. With less saliva production, it doesn’t wash away the acid, and they’re not neutralized. This means that bacteria are given free rein to move around and eat at your enamel.
When you don’t have saliva, you will have tooth decay.
The reduced saliva is a big reason why you might have dry mouth, and these food particles are left on there. It also contributes to an acidic environment, which is a prime breeding ground for cavity formation. It also leads to more buildup and cavities, again a big problem.
Some mouth breathing also may cause jaw misalignment, and also orthodontic issues at hand, which again, is a big problem.
If you breathe through your nose, you have this happen far less.
The Impact of Oxygen on Bacteria and tooth sensitivity
Another issue with mouth breathing is that it reduces oxygen flow. The lessened nature of this leads to more room for bacteria to grow. You’re not giving enough oxygen to the body when you breathe through your mouth. That along with a dry environment, leads to more tooth sensitivity as a result.
How to correct Mouth Breathing
Correcting mouth breathing may require just a few changes, or something drastic. Consistently practicing breathing with your mouse during the day is a good place to start.
If you’re unable to breathe through your nose due to congestion, use some saline sprays or take allergy medications to help clear up your sinuses.
Sometimes, breathing through your mouth is caused by a deviated septum, or tonsils that are enlarged. In that case, you might need to see a doctor.
If you’re already doing those, also consider reducing your stress too. you might be doing this because you’re stressed out, without realizing it. Also, consider adding a humidifier or an air purifier if you have allergies, to help with the effects.
Finally, consider using a mouth guard or mouth tape to help with nose breathing.
If these issues are present, which they might be if you’re a chronic mouth breather, you need to see a doctor to help with figuring out the cause and treatment. In some instances, you might need surgery in order to breathe through your nose more, and reduce the mouth breathing as best as you can.
Breathe Correctly for Best Results
If you’re not breathing correctly, whether through your nose or your mouth, you’ll run into trouble. By correcting your breathing and breathing through your nose, you get more beneficial air, which oxygenates the body, and provides better airflow throughout the body. You will also create an environment that’s less dry, and also create more saliva in your mouth, improving your overall dental health.
It works wonders, and it can be the answer you’re looking for. Make sure to use this in order to keep your oral health in check, and also to keep your physical health active and strong across every front, so you can have a better, stronger body with the right motions and changes.
