Breathing through the mouth is very common within individuals. It could be due to the person suffering from a cold or flu or something they are regularly doing. But the reason for breathing from the mouth is because the intake of air through the nose is not sufficient for them.
There may seem not much of a difference in breathing from the nose vs. the mouth. But there are characteristics that can drastically affect your health, especially your dental health. Breathing from the mouth leads to your mouth becoming dry. When there is a lack of saliva in the mouth or no saliva in the mouth, it can cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Dry mouth is the result of breathing from the mouth, which is the drying up of your mouth’s saliva. The presence of saliva in your mouth protects your teeth and gums by negating the effects of acid in the mouth. And stopping the bacteria from causing any damage.
When there is no saliva, there is no protective barrier in the mouth, which can allow bacteria and germs to grow in the mouth. Once these grow to an extent, they can increase plaque and eventually cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Drying up of saliva in the mouth also increases the number of bacteria on the tongue, the roof of the mouth as these too are dried up surfaces now. Bad breath is also a result of breathing from the mouth and dry mouth. It is the debris and dryness that causes a bad odor.
Do not worry too much about the effects of mouth breathing on your teeth and gums. Just visit Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry for consultation, and our dentists will recommend the best treatment that suits you. Call us at 281-937-7530 to schedule a consultation.