Mouth Breathing While You Sleep?Updated 25 days ago
Even though it may not seem like a huge concern to sleep with your mouth open, it’s a warning sign that you aren’t breathing properly while you sleep, which may have severe consequences for your health and well-being.
In truth, sleep apnea is characterized by several symptoms, one of which is continuous mouth breathing. This illness may progress to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and more if not addressed.
Want to know what causes it and how to treat it? Let’s get into it!
What Happens When You Sleep With Your Mouth Open?
Saliva is your mouth’s strongest weapon against tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva is a liquid that covers your gums and teeth to protect them. Its composition includes phosphate, bicarbonate, and calcium, all of which work together to restore tooth structure and neutralize the acid from plaque.
Sleeping with an open mouth causes the mouth to dry out and lose its protective mucus membrane. Bacteria in the mouth may wreak havoc on your teeth and gums if saliva isn’t there to help keep things clean. Tooth decay and gum recession are two of the long-term effects of gum disease.
And the last thing you want is to visit your dentist during Halloween. Na-Uh. They are already scary enough without their costumes.
Some Pointers
Self-Support
Pile up the pillows for a good night’s rest. Sleeping on your stomach increases the risk of snoring since your nose is more likely to grow stuffy, and you’ll have to open your lips to breathe. Propping yourself up as you sleep lessens this impact.
Go to the Dentist
If you have just started sleeping with your mouth open, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist. If you’re having health issues, your dentist may identify them and prescribe or recommend using a CPAP machine. If you want to avoid this prescription (trust us.. you do..) try Intake to open your nose so you don’t have to resort to this machine.
Don’t Let Your Throat Get Dry
Several simple at-home remedies may help you avoid the negative effects of nighttime mouth breathing by keeping your lips moist. Maintain a regular dental hygiene regimen and drink plenty of water. Some doctors may recommend the use of antihistamines or nasal decongestants to keep your nasal passageways open. While we find that these can be helpful in the moment, some interesting studies have been coming out related to the frequent use of these, and we recommend keeping them to a minimum. If you need your nose opened —you know where to go!
You Should See A Dentist
If you have trouble breathing through your mouth, painful gums, or tooth decay, you should make an appointment with your dentist. Make an appointment if you have symptoms like foul breath, receding gums or dry mouth so that you can discuss them and receive a checkup. Your dentist can assist you in figuring out why you’re breathing through your mouth and advise you on how to stop the progression of gum disease.