If you have caught a cold or cough and are unable to breathe, it is normal to sleep with your mouth open for some time. However, doing it long-term can signify a few dangerous health issues you may be suffering from.

Experts say even though breathing provides you with the oxygen your body needs to survive, it also releases carbon dioxide and waste.

What is mouth breathing?

Mouth breathing becomes necessary when you cannot breathe through your nose due to nasal congestion from allergies or a cold. Also, when you’re exercising strenuously, breathing through the mouth can help get oxygen to your muscles faster. However, doing it while sleeping, doctors say, can lead to problems.

Even though you may not realize that you are breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, especially while you sleep, a few symptoms you may notice, include:

  • Snoring
  • Dryness in your mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Hoarseness in your voice
  • Waking up tired and irritable
  • Chronic fatigue and tiredness
  • Brain fog
  • Dark circles under the eyes

What causes mouth breathing?

According to experts, in most cases, mouth breathing happens when air gets prevented through the smooth passage of air into the nose. There can be many causes for that, which include congestion, enlarged tonsils, and adenoids, deviated septum, stress and anxiety, nasal polyps, enlarged turbinates, or even a tumour.

What are the health problems that mouth breathing can cause?

According to doctors, apart from causing extreme dryness in your mouth, this condition can also lead to quick multiplication of bacteria, which causes:

  • Bad breath or halitosis
  • Periodontal diseases like gingivitis and tooth cavities
  • Throat and ear infections

Mouth breathing also causes low oxygen concentration in the blood which leads to high blood pressure or heart failure. Studies show mouth breathing also decreases the optimal functioning of your lungs and worsens symptoms in people suffering from asthma.

In children, mouth breathing can cause various physical abnormalities and cognitive challenges like long and narrow faces and mouths, gummy smiles, and even dental malocclusion, including a large overbite and crowded teeth and even ADHD-like symptoms.

According to doctors, the condition also causes poor posture, and chronic back aches in adults.

Ways to prevent mouth breathing

A few ways you can prevent breathing from your mouth all the time, include:

  • Using a saline mist
  • Using saline sprays and nasal decongestants or allergy reliever medications at the first sign of allergy or cold symptoms
  • Sleeping on your back with your head elevated opens up the airways and promotes nasal breathing
  • Keeping your house clean
  • Installing air filters in your heat and air conditioning systems to prevent the spread of dirt and allergens Practicing breathing exercises and yoga asanas