Mouth breathing can often be treated or corrected.
Treatment techniques depend on the cause.
In some cases, mouth breathing can be corrected with exercises, changing habits, and other noninvasive techniques.
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Daily mouth breathing can cause dental problems over time.
This is especially problematic for children who are still growing and developing and are more prone to structural changes.
Mouth breathing during sleep can cause or worsen snoringand can makesleep apneatreatment less effective.
Consider setting reminders on your phone or smartwatch to check your breathing and switch to nose breathing.
The more you practice nose breathing, the more automatic it becomes.
Check yourposture, and avoid letting your head extend forward unnaturally, as this affects respiratory function.
Exercise increases your need for deep breaths, which naturally encourages you to breathe through your nose.
It also encourages proper tongue posture and breathing.
As with adults, treatment of mouth breathing in children depends on the cause.
For example, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend treatingallergic rhinitiswith intranasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation.
An estimated 10% to 30% of adults in the United States have obstructive sleep apnea.
Children can also have sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Mouth breathing can makesymptoms of sleep apneaworse.
It can also lower the effectiveness of the CPAP machine.
Sleep apnea can cause several health problems if left untreated, and getting aproper diagnosisand treatment plan is important.
Summary
Mouth breathing can be habitual or a sign of an underlying problem.
It can also cause dental changes in children.
Treatment for mouth breathing first involves treating any potential underlying conditions.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you or your child are experiencing chronic mouth breathing.
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