Mouth breathing treatment in Dubai

Do you know humans breathe around 20,000 times daily? But not many of us do it right. Mouth breathing is an unhealthy way to breathe. This upper chest breathing technique contributes to stress, anxiety, and poor body oxygenation. It will help if you breathe through the nose.

Generally, accepted theory suggests that most adults and children do mouth-breathe because of a blocked nose. Mouth breathing becomes a habit either due to small airway size or airway obstruction. 

What causes mouth breathing in children?

  • Swollen adenoids or tonsils
  • Nasal polyps
  • A small nose
  • A deviated nasal septum
  • Tongue-tie or lip tie in babies
  • Constricted upper airways
  • Asthma, allergies, rhinitis
  • Mouth breathing teeth deformations
  • Bottle-feeding or problems breastfeeding 
  • An overheated home environment
  • Thumb sucking or excessive pacifier use
  • Too little physical exercise
  • Over-eating
  • Overly processed diet 
Mouth breathing treatment

What causes mouth breathing in adults?

The two lymph structures prevent infections from going down the throat and stomach. It is an alarm to the system, which gets infected first by bacterial or viral invasion.

It can be caused by:

  • Poor airway development in childhood
  • Poor posture (forward head position)
  • Nasal obstruction or injury like enlarged nasal turbinates, collapsed nasal valves, damaged, deviated septum or sinus

What are the risk factors for mouth breathing?

Although mouth breathing is common, it may pose a risk if associated with certain conditions, and you should immediately see a doctor. These include:

  • chronic allergies
  • hay fever
  • chronic or recurring sinus infections
  • asthma
  • chronic stress, and anxiety

Problems associated with mouth breathing

Mouth breathing contributes to problems including:

  • Lack of moisture
  • Irritation in the airways
  • More breathlessness
  • Poorer quality of life
  • More burden on the heart
  • Poor oxygenation
  • Chronic anxiety and stress
  • Sleep-disordered breathing
  • Poor dental health, bad breath
  • Greater susceptibility to airway infection
  • Behavioural and developmental issues in children
  • Poorer speech and auditory skills
  • Poor diaphragm function

Mouth breathing in children may change the shape of the face, teeth, and airways, resulting in poor cognitive development and behavioural disorders. The right way to breathe and stay healthy is nasal breathing and keeping the tongue in the correct resting position. 

Nose Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing

There are several benefits of nose breathing over mouth breathing, 

Prevents Dehydration

Breathing through the nose warms, humidifies, and filters air when it enters the body. As a result, it protects the airways from irritation and infection while preventing dehydration. In comparison, the body loses 42 percent more water through mouth breathing.

Effective Breathing

Nasal breathing is slower and more effective. This is because slow breathing activates the diaphragm and the digestive system, whereas mouth breathing targets the upper chest and makes the body use smaller ‘accessory’ breathing muscles. This indirectly impacts pain perception and emotions.

Better Ventilation

Nose breathing results in better oxygen uptake. When we breathe in and out through the nose, the air is maintained in the lungs for longer, reaching the tiny air sacs to exchange gases. As a result, more oxygen is available for extraction and circulation in the body. Ventilation or breathing effort is reduced by 22 percent in nose breathing.

Inhalation of Nitric Oxide

During nasal breathing, nitric oxide is inhaled, whereas mouth breathing bypasses the functions of nasal nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is useful to keep the blood vessels in the lungs and airways open. Therefore it acts as an immune system defense and offers anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-pathogen, and anti-allergen properties.

Why contact Dr. Peter Baptista for mouth breathing treatment in Dubai?

Mouth breathing should not become a habit in children, as it causes many short-term and long-term health issues. Consult Dr. Peter Baptista if you or your child is developing mouth breathing. Peter Baptista Jardin is an eminent ENT specialist with over 30 years of experience treating adults and children. He also holds expertise in nasal and sleeps apnea surgeries. 

Connect with Dr. Peter to resolve your concerns and take mouth-breathing treatment in Dubai.