The Danger of Mouth Breathing

The Problem with Mouth Breathing

• The tongue no longer provides support for the upper jaw with resulting reduced upper arch size.
• The vault rises leading to reduction in the size of the nasal passages contributing to congestion of nose
• The pH of saliva elevates leading to increased rate of caries
• A tendency to URT infections often resulting in tonsillitis and enlarged adenoids
• The medullary trigger resets at lower level leading to hyperventilation
• The alkalinity of blood increases so less oxygen released from the blood. This is known as the Bohr Effect.
• Oxygen circulates the blood in the form of oxy-haemoglobin but reduced levels of carboxy-haemoglobin mean that less oxygen is released from the oxy-haemoglobin to enter the tissues so cells die
• Smooth muscle spasm. Gastric reflux, asthma and bed wetting are commonly associated with chronic mouth-breathing