Shut your mouth
Mouth-breathing is so prolific; you don’t need to look far to find it. Look at the people around you, chances are you’ll see at least one slack jaw. Perhaps you only needed to look as far as the mirror, to see your own reflection gaping back at you.
From an evolutionary perspective, mouth-breathing has a purpose. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to communicate through speech. It’s also a useful backup in case our nose gets damaged. In times of danger breathing through the mouth also lets you breathe faster a quick burst of energy, to fight, or run away.
However, when mouth-breathing becomes the default, your body suffers, Not to mention, you miss out on all the benefits of nasal breathing.
What’s the big deal?
Nose, mouth, a hole’s a hole. Doesn’t matter how the air gets in and out of my lungs. Right?
Wrong
When we mouth-breathe:
Air isn’t filtered, more pollutants and pathogens are inhaled. Increasing risk of respiratory infections, allergies, and congestion.
Breathing is fast, and shallow - places excess strain on the body, and increases risk of asthma, heart disease, anxiety, and depression.
Dries out saliva in the mouth, making it harder for healthy microbes to survive, and easier for harmful bacteria to thrive – leading to cavities, bad breath, and periodontal disease.
Disrupts healthy sleep cycles, and increases likelihood of snoring and sleep apnea.
Changes skeletal structure of the face and jaw. Contributing to crooked teeth, narrow mouth, and increases the need for orthodontic treatment.
Why do we mouth-breathe in the first place
If we shouldn’t breathe through the mouth, why is it so inviting, and why do so many people do it?
Some of the most common causes are:
Weak jaw, and tongue
Difficulty breathing through the nose – e.g. deviated septum, chronic congestion due to allergies
To make things worse many of the symptoms of mouth-breathing, are also causes of mouth-breathing.
So, once someone starts mouth-breathing, it becomes is enforced even further. In other words.
Mouth-breathing = more mouth-breathing
What can you do?
If this all sounds too familiar, don’t worry, I’ve been there.
For over two decades, I was trapped in that same never-ending cycle. Resulting in asthma, allergies, snoring, and all kinds of dental problems.
Fortunately, the way out is simple!
Step 1:
Step 2:
Retrain nasal breathing - regular practice of techniques like: Nadi Shodana, Ultimate Balancing Breath, and Bhramari Pranayama really help clear out your nostrils, and get things flowing again.
(If that still doesn’t help, you may have a mechanical obstruction, such as a deviated septum, in which case consult your primary healthcare practitioner.)
Good luck!