Litchfield Hills Today

• Mouth breathing can lead to dental issues, including gingivitis and cavity development.
• As many as 60% of adults breathe through their mouth.
• Procedures such as a balloon sinuplasty or endoscopy can help a patient to breathe better through their nose.

Sinusitis and mouth breathing, according to Dr. Robert Weiss of CT ENT Sinus Center, can lead to other health issues and affect your quality of life.

"It's not good to mouth-breathe," Weiss told Litchfield Hills Today. “So if you mouth-breathe, what happens? Your mouth dries out. Saliva is most important. It protects against pathogens in the mouth and the oral cavity. So if the membranes are dry, that can lead to many problems. So constantly mouth-breathing, even during sleep, can affect oral health."

According to KTM Yoga, people should be breathing through their noses most of the time, but up to 60% of adults frequently breathe through their mouths. The hair and mucus in the nose serves as a filter to trap bacteria and dust, and nasal breathing also boosts the intake of oxygen and brain activity. The benefits of breathing through the nose include regulating airflow, which widens blood vessels and slows the heart rate, resulting in a feeling of calm.

Healthline reported that mouth breathing can dry out the month, leading to an environment ripe for the formation of gingivitis and cavity development.

People suffering from chronic sinus issues or allergies often breathe through their mouths, which can lead to oral issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. By breathing this way, people end up drying their saliva, setting the foundation for the growth of bacteria and plaque on teeth. This can lead to gum disease, cavities and chronic bad breath. Breathing through the mouth on a regular basis over extended periods of time also can lead to snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils, strained jaw joints and an increased susceptibility to airway issues, such as asthma.

WebMD pointed out that people who battle chronic sinusitis have treatment options, including balloon sinuplasty and endoscopy. During an endoscopy procedure, doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nasal passages and view the cavity on a screen, providing a view of obstructions and using instruments to remove blockages, including scar tissue and polyps. While the procedure requires a local anesthetic, there are no incisions and the recovery period is relatively quick.

A newer treatment option is balloon sinuplasty, during which a doctor inserts a tube with a small balloon into the nasal cavity and guides it the blocked area. It is then inflated to clear the passage, allowing the sinuses to drain and reducing congestion.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.