{"id":5745,"date":"2021-12-09T17:04:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enorcerna.com\/wiki\/otorhinolaryngology\/mouth-breathing-why-it-occurs-symptoms-and-consequences\/"},"modified":"2021-12-09T17:04:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T17:04:39","slug":"mouth-breathing-why-it-occurs-symptoms-and-consequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enorcerna.com\/wiki\/otorhinolaryngology\/mouth-breathing-why-it-occurs-symptoms-and-consequences\/","title":{"rendered":"Mouth breathing: why it occurs, symptoms and consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mouth breathing (breathing through the mouth) is a problem that occurs in a higher percentage in children<\/strong>, and it is in this population where its alterations and consequences are most serious, since they are in a period of development and growth. Therefore, it will be essential to know the signs and symptoms related to this type of breathing to be able to treat it as soon as possible, the better, since the causes that generate it can be corrected and treated.<\/p>\n

The consequences of not acting in the presence of this alteration can be multiple, from cognitive impairments such as difficulty in concentration, to coordination problems or difficulties in getting a good rest during sleep. In this article we will briefly describe what is meant by mouth breathing and we will cite the main causes, symptoms that it can present, as well as the alterations and affectations that appear if it is ignored and is not treated effectively.<\/p>\n

What is mouth breathing?<\/h2>\n

Mouth breathing, as the word indicates, consists of breathing through the mouth<\/strong>, but this pattern does not have to occur always, it can occur only at night, when the individual speaks or it can appear in a mixed way and breathe both through the mouth and through the nose.<\/p>\n

Most of the studies that have been carried out to know the consequences of breathing through the mouth, as well as the possible treatments, have been carried out with children, since in these, this alteration in breathing, produces affectation in the development and therefore it is advisable to carry out a treatment to avoid possible negative consequences in the future. It has been proven that early treatment can prevent a large number of pathologies.<\/p>\n

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Causes of mouth breathing<\/h2>\n

It is considered that normal breathing and therefore the one that the human being will have a tendency to carry out will be the nasal one. Therefore, if this is not done, it is most likely because the airways are obstructed<\/strong>. The most frequent cause of obstruction in children is hypertrophy, enlargement, of the tonsils and adenoids or vegetations, the latter refers to a mass of tissue located in the back of the nasal cavity. Both the tonsils and the adenoids are responsible for capturing bacteria and viruses and thus keeping the body healthy.<\/p>\n

Another cause that also generates with high frequency that the nasal passages are clogged, are respiratory infections, produced by viruses and bacteria, examples of these would be: the common cold, producing nasal congestion, mucus, cough and headache; pharyngitis, with the main symptom of a sore throat; rhinosinusitis, infection of the mucosa that lines the nose and paranasal sinuses (hollow spaces behind our forehead, nose and eyes) this produces a lot of congestion, general malaise, pain in the face and fever.<\/p>\n

In the same way, other causes have been observed that can lead to obstruction of the nasal passages and consequent mouth breathing<\/strong>, some of them would be the following: inflammation of the mucosa due to allergies (allergic rhinitis and sinusitis), deviation of the nasal septum, malformations, polyps (abnormal bulges) on the surface of the mucosa, muscle hypotonia, decreased muscle tone , have asthma, thumb sucking or thumb sucking or birth abnormalities such as choanal atresia (blockage of the nasal airways by tissue).<\/p>\n

An alteration in the tongue has also been seen, appearing more tied to the mouth, a fact that hinders its mobility through it, this alteration is called the tongue tie.<\/p>\n

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Symptoms (and consequences) of mouth breathing<\/h2>\n

To be able to detect if a person breathes through the mouth, we can look at a series of signs and symptoms<\/strong> that usually appear in them. As we have pointed out, it will be vital to be attentive to the possibility of presenting these symptoms in order to start treatment as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Some of the signs would be the following: sleeping with your mouth open and snoring at night; keep your mouth open most of the day; present dark circles and flattening of the cheekbones, which indicates that there is not a good rest; presence of parafunctional habits, which consist of movements of the masticatory system that do not make useful sense (for example, pushing the teeth with the tongue); tendency to lift the chin and move the neck forward in order to breathe better; suffer from clinical pictures such as recurrent otitis, which causes damage to the ear, irritability and even fever.<\/p>\n

As we have already pointed out, untreated persistent mouth breathing can cause multiple consequences and alterations<\/strong>, especially in children, since they are in a vulnerable stage to affectations that can alter the normal development of the infant. Next we will mention the main consequences that are observed:<\/p>\n

1. Deformations of the face<\/h3>\n

Breathing continuously through the mouth, especially in children, can cause deformities and modify facial development<\/strong> during the growth of this. If it is not detected in time and an effective treatment is applied, alterations can develop in the facial characteristics known as adenoid facies, these are the following:<\/p>\n

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  • Long face<\/li>\n
  • Flat face without projection of the cheekbones<\/li>\n
  • Presence of dark circles<\/li>\n
  • Retracted chin sunken or further back<\/li>\n
  • Dropped or hooked nose<\/li>\n
  • Narrow nostrils<\/li>\n
  • Narrow or ogival palate<\/li>\n
  • Crooked teeth<\/li>\n
  • Gummy smile (no harmony between teeth, gums and upper jaw)<\/li>\n
  • Bad neck posture<\/li>\n
  • Mandibular retroposition<\/li>\n
  • Upper lip hypotonia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    2. Dental and skeletal problems<\/h3>\n

    One of the aforementioned symptoms of persistent mouth breathing is keeping it open most of the time. Difficulty keeping your mouth shut produces a decrease in the flow of saliva<\/strong>, this fact makes the appearance of cavities and gum problems more prone; bad breath, it has been observed that around 50.9% of children with mouth breathing have a strong mouth odor; and increased accumulation of bacteria. As there is less salivary movement, it also generates a sensation of permanent dry mouth.<\/p>\n

    In relation to the characteristics of adenoid facies that may present, such as the pointed or narrow palate, other dental alterations such as open bite or retracted jaw also occur, associated with an incorrect alignment of the teeth.<\/p>\n

    3. Snoring and coughing at night<\/h3>\n

    Breathing through the mouth and difficulty in breathing through the nose cause breathing problems when the individual lies in bed and tries to sleep. Snoring is a sign of alteration in the correct development of sleep<\/strong>. Therefore, if we observe snoring in children we cannot ignore them, since not treating them means that the child will continue without having a full rest, and it is at this time, childhood, where it is essential that the individual sleep correctly in order to achieve an adequate development and formation of neural connections.<\/p>\n

    4. Sleep apneas<\/h3>\n

    Sleep apnea is a disorder in which there are interruptions in the process of breathing while the subject sleeps<\/strong>. That is, the individual stops breathing for a variable time related to gravity. There are two types of apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, is the most common and occurs when the throat muscles relax and central sleep apnea, the brain does not send correct orders to the muscles that control breathing.<\/p>\n

    Failure to breathe correctly while sleeping produces a decrease in the level of cerebral oxygen, which can generate both cognitive and motor alterations, such as: an alteration in learning and information processing related to a deterioration in the prefrontal cortex or an increase in the level of cortisol and adrenaline that can produce symptoms of hyperactivity, anxiety, aggressive behavior and learning problems. Coordination problems and muscle pain have also been detected.<\/p>\n

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    5. Irritation, tiredness and bad feeling<\/h3>\n

    Related to the appearance of apnea and lack of oxygen, individuals with mouth breathing present sleep disturbances that do not allow them to rest properly. This lack of adequate rest results in the presentation of more irritable, tired states, with difficulties concentrating, without patience, forgetfulness easily occurs, they are more stressed and angry and as expected due to the lack of optimal sleep, are more fatigued and sleepy<\/strong>. We can say that they are less happy than they should be.<\/p>\n

    6. Hearing disturbances<\/h3>\n

    In the same way, frequent hearing problems have been observed, such as otitis, an inflammation of the ear usually caused by an infection.<\/p>\n

    7. Changes in speech<\/h3>\n

    In order for speech to be correct, it is necessary that the breath be correct as well. We have already pointed out previously that mouth breathing can occur exclusively during speech. The lack of correct breathing can lead to alterations in speech such as lisp, difficulty in the proper pronunciation of the letter \"s\"<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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