Q: Why does nasal breathing matter?
A: Nasal breathing warms, filters, and humidifies air; supports nitric oxide release for better oxygen delivery; promotes healthy jaw/tongue posture; and improves sleep quality. Mouth breathing bypasses these benefits and can strain the airway, teeth, and sleep.
Q: How can I tell if I (or my child) mouth breathe?
A: Common signs include:
- Dry mouth on waking, chapped lips, or bad breath
- Snoring, restless sleep, or night sweats
- Daytime sleepiness, brain fog, or behavioral concerns
- Open-mouth posture, low tongue posture, forward head posture
- Frequent nasal congestion with “default” mouth open
- Dental crowding/relapse after braces, gum irritation, or cavities at the gumline
Q: Is mouth breathing bad for health?
A: Persistent mouth breathing is linked to:
- Sleep issues (snoring, fragmented sleep, symptoms consistent with sleep-disordered breathing)
- Dental/orthodontic concerns (narrow palate, crowding, relapse after braces)
- Feeding/swallowing differences (low tongue posture, inefficient chewing)
- Behavior & focus (daytime fatigue can look like inattention/irritability)
- TMJ strain & posture changes (forward head posture to open the airway)
Q: What causes mouth breathing?
A: Usually a combination of:
- Nasal obstruction (allergies, deviated septum, enlarged adenoids/tonsils, chronic congestion)
- Habits/posture (open-mouth rest posture, thumb sucking/pacifier use)
- Oral restrictions (tongue tie limiting tongue-to-palate rest)
- Low oral muscle tone (lips/tongue/jaw fatigue)
- History of airway infections or reflux
Q: How is mouth breathing evaluated?
A: At BreatheWorks, we assess:
- Airway & nasal patency (can you breathe comfortably through the nose?)
- Oral rest posture (lips sealed, tongue on palate, teeth slightly apart)
- Swallow pattern (look for tongue thrust)
- Sleep history (snoring, restlessness, mouth open at night)
- Feeding/chewing mechanics in kids and adults
We coordinate with ENTs, dentists/orthodontists, pediatricians, and lactation specialists when medical or dental factors are involved.
Q: Can mouth breathing be corrected? What are the steps?
A: Yes—most people improve with a stepwise plan:
- Clear the nose: Saline rinses, humidification, allergy management with your medical provider.
- Retrain breathing: Myofunctional breathing drills to promote gentle, quiet nasal breathing at rest and during activity.
- Restore oral posture: Tongue-to-palate rest, lips sealed, teeth lightly apart; build lip/tongue strength.
- Correct swallow: Eliminate tongue thrust and normalize suck-swallow-breathe patterns (kids and adults).
- Address contributors: ENT evaluation for obstruction; dental/ortho collaboration for palate/relapse; consider tongue-tie assessment when appropriate.
- Reinforce habits: Daytime practice + nighttime strategies (nasal hygiene routine, side-sleeping, provider-guided mouth-taping where appropriate and safe).
Good news: Our virtual care delivers the same coaching, exercises, and progress tracking as in-person sessions.
Q: What exercises help transition from mouth to nasal breathing?
A: Programs are individualized, but commonly include:
- Nasal priming: Gentle nose-unblocking drills, diaphragmatic breathing
- Lip seal work: Isometric/isotonic lip tasks; straw or button exercises where appropriate
- Tongue posture & strength: Elevation drills to the palate, lateralization, suction hold
- Swallow retraining: Cueing patterns that keep the tongue on the palate and lips relaxed
- Habit reversal: Strategies to reduce open-mouth rest, thumb/pacifier habits, and screen-time postures
(Always complete exercises after an evaluation to ensure safety and the right sequence.)
Q: When should a provider refer for therapy?
A: Refer to BreatheWorks if patients present with:
- Persistent mouth-open posture or habitual snoring
- Orthodontic relapse, narrow palate, or persistent crossbite
- Feeding/chewing fatigue, strong gag, or picky eating with texture avoidance
- Suspected tongue tie ankyloglossia or low resting tongue posture
- Sleep concerns unresponsive to routine hygiene changes
We co-manage with ENTs (airway), dentists/orthodontists (arch development/retention), pediatricians (growth/behavior), and naturopaths/MDs/DOs (inflammation/allergies).
Q: Can this be done via telehealth?
A: Yes. Our teletherapy is designed to match in-person outcomes. We provide virtual evaluations, live exercise coaching, progress tracking, and home-setup guidance—ideal for families and busy adults.
Q: Do you serve my area?
A: In-person care is available in:
- Portland, Oregon
- Eugene, Oregon
- Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Bellevue, Washington
- Amarillo, Texas
We also provide virtual care so patients nationwide can access the same expertise.
FAQs
Is mouth breathing ever normal? Temporary mouth breathing during a cold is common; chronic mouth breathing should be evaluated.
Will switching to nasal breathing help sleep? Often yes—nasal breathing supports quieter sleep and may reduce snoring and nighttime waking.
Could braces fail if I mouth breathe? Muscle habits drive tooth position. Correcting oral posture reduces relapse risk after orthodontics.
Is mouth-taping safe? Only with professional guidance and never if nasal obstruction is suspected. Start with an evaluation.
Next Steps
Ready to move from mouth to nasal breathing—safely and step-by-step?
- Schedule a breathing & airway evaluation (in-person or virtual)
- Providers: Refer a patient to BreatheWorks
