Mouth Breathing: Symptoms, Complications, And Treatments

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat to Know About Mouth Breathing

Medically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on March 8, 2023

What is mouth breathing?
Advantages of nose breathing
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Complications
Treatment
Outlook
Prevention

Breathing only from your mouth due to nasal congestion from infection is usually temporary, but doing it long-term can lead to health issues. The treatment depends on the cause.

Breathing provides your body with the oxygen it needs to survive. It also allows you to release carbon dioxide and waste.

You have two air passageways to your lungs: the nose and the mouth. Most people use both their nose and their mouth to breathe.

What is mouth breathing?

Sometimes people only breathe through their mouths. This is known as mouth breathing.

Mouth breathing typically only becomes necessary when you can’t 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.

Is it bad to be a mouth breather?

Breathing through the mouth all the time, including when you’re sleeping, can lead to problems.

In children, mouth breathing can cause crooked teeth, facial deformities, or poor growth. In adults, chronic mouth breathing can cause bad breath and gum disease. It can also worsen symptoms of other illnesses.

What are the advantages of breathing through your nose?

The importance of your nose often goes unnoticed until you have a bad cold. A stuffed-up nose can reduce your quality of life. It can also affect your ability to sleep well and function in general.

The nose produces nitric oxide, which improves your lungs’ ability to absorb oxygen and transport it throughout the body. It relaxes vascular smooth muscle and allows blood vessels to dilate.

Nitric oxide is also antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antibacterial. It helps the immune system to fight infections.

Advantages of nose breathing

The nose acts as a filter and retains small particles in the air, including pollen.
The nose adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness in the lungs and bronchial tubes.
The nose warms up cold air to body temperature before it gets to your lungs.
Nose breathing adds resistance to the air stream. This increases oxygen uptake by maintaining the lungs’ elasticity.

How do I know if I am breathing through my mouth?

You may not realize that you’re breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, especially while you sleep. People who breathe through their mouth at night may have the following symptoms:

snoring
dry mouth
bad breath (halitosis)
hoarseness
waking up tired and irritable
chronic fatigue
brain fog
dark circles under the eyes

Symptoms in children

If you’re a parent, it’s important to look for signs of mouth breathing in your children.

A child may not be able to communicate their symptoms. Like adults, children who are mouth breathers will snore at night. Children who breathe through their mouths for most of the day may also have the following symptoms:

slower-than-normal growth rate
irritability
increased crying episodes at night
large tonsils
dry, cracked lips
problems concentrating at school
daytime sleepiness

Children who exhibit problems concentrating at school are often misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

What causes mouth breathing?

The underlying cause of most cases of mouth breathing is an obstructed (completely blocked or partially blocked) nasal airway.

In other words, there’s something preventing the smooth passage of air into the nose. If your nose is blocked, the body automatically resorts to the only other source that can provide oxygen — your mouth.

There are many causes of a blocked nose. These include:

nasal congestion caused by allergies, a cold, or a sinus infection
enlarged adenoids
enlarged tonsils
deviated septum
nasal polyps, or benign growths of tissue in the lining of your nose
enlarged turbinates
the shape of the nose
the shape and size of the jaw
tumors (rare)

Some people develop a habit of breathing through their mouth instead of their nose even after the nasal obstruction clears. For some people with sleep apnea, it may become a habit to sleep with their mouths open to accommodate their need for oxygen.

Stress and anxiety can also cause a person to breathe through their mouth instead of their nose. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system leading to shallow, rapid, and abnormal breathing.

What are the risk factors for mouth breathing?

Anyone can develop a habit of breathing through their mouth, but certain conditions increase your risk. These include:

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

How is mouth breathing diagnosed?

There’s no single test for mouth breathing. A doctor might diagnose mouth breathing during a physical examination when looking at the nostrils or during a visit to find out what’s causing persistent nasal congestion. They may ask questions about sleep, snoring, sinus problems, and difficulty breathing.

A dentist may diagnose mouth breathing during a routine dental examination if you have bad breath, frequent cavities, or gum disease.

If a dentist or doctor notices swollen tonsils, nasal polyps, and other conditions, they may refer you to a specialist, like an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor for further evaluation.

Can mouth breathing lead to health problems?

Mouth breathing is very drying. A dry mouth means that saliva cannot wash bacteria from the mouth. This can lead to:

bad breath
periodontal disease, such as gingivitis and tooth cavities
throat and ear infections

Mouth breathing may result in low oxygen concentration in the blood. This is associated with high blood pressure and heart failure. Studies show mouth breathing may also decrease lung function and worsen symptoms and exacerbations in people with asthma.

In children, mouth breathing can lead to physical abnormalities and cognitive challenges. Children who aren’t treated for mouth breathing can develop:

long, narrow faces
narrow mouths
gummy smiles
dental malocclusion, including a large overbite and crowded teeth
poor posture

Additionally, children who breathe through their mouths often don’t sleep well at night. Poor sleep can lead to:

poor growth
poor academic performance
inability to concentrate
sleep disorders

How is mouth breathing treated?

Treatment for mouth breathing depends on the cause. Medications can treat nasal congestion due to colds and allergies. These medications include:

nasal decongestants
antihistamines
prescription or over-the-counter steroid nasal sprays

Adhesive strips applied to the bridge of the nose can also help breathing. A stiff adhesive strip called a nasal dilator applied across the nostrils helps decrease airflow resistance and helps you breathe more easily through your nose.

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will likely have you wear a face mask appliance at night called continuous positive air pressure therapy (CPAP).

A CPAP appliance delivers air to your nose and mouth through a mask. The pressure of the air keeps your airways from collapsing and becoming blocked.

In children, surgical removal of swollen tonsils and adenoids can treat mouth breathing.

A dentist might also recommend that your child wears an appliance designed to widen the palate and help open the sinuses and nasal passages. Braces and other orthodontic treatments might also help treat the underlying cause of mouth breathing.

What is the outlook for mouth breathing?

Treating mouth breathing in children early can reduce or prevent the negative effect on facial and dental development. Children who receive surgery or other intervention to reduce mouth breathing show improvement in energy levels, behavior, academic performance, and growth.

Untreated mouth breathing can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Poor sleep caused by mouth breathing can also reduce your quality of life and exacerbate stress.

How to prevent mouth breathing

Chronic mouth breathing caused by the shape of your face or nose can’t always be prevented.

If you find that your nose is frequently congested due to allergies or respiratory infections, there are actions you can take to prevent making mouth breathing a habit. It’s a good idea to address nasal congestion or dryness right away. Tips for preventing mouth breathing include:

using a saline mist during long flights or cruises
using saline nasal mists and 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 to open up the airways and promote nasal breathing
keeping your house clean and free of allergens
installing air filters in your heat and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to prevent the spread of allergens in your house
consciously practicing breathing through your nose during the day to help force yourself into a habit of nose breathing

If you’re experiencing stress or anxiety, it may help to engage in yoga or meditation practice.

Yoga is beneficial for people who breathe through their mouths as a result of stress because it focuses on deep breathing through the nose.

Restorative yoga is designed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote slower deep breathing through the nose.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on March 8, 2023

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