Mouth breathing is a widespread but often overlooked issue that affects both children and adults, leading to detrimental consequences on oral health and overall well-being. In this comprehensive article, Dr. Nahla Badr, a distinguished specialist in pediatric dentistry, sheds light on the importance of identifying and addressing the mouth breathing habit. With valuable insights and professional recommendations, this article aims to serve as a definitive reference in the field of pediatric dentistry.
- How can a dentist detect if the patient is a mouth breather?
You might be wondering how a mouth breather wouldn’t know that they have this problem, but, many mouth breathing cases go undetected and untreated, especially among kids. Here are a few tests done in the dental clinic (that you can do by yourself as well) to detect this dysfunction. Mouth breathing can be diagnosed by the dentist based on several signs that the patient presents, but to confirm the presence of the problem, several tests can be done instantly in the clinic. One of these tests is to ask the patient to take a sip of water and hold it in their mouth for a certain time. If they are not capable of doing so, then they are a mouth breather. Another test that can be done in the clinic involves holding the dental mirror just under the right nostril and observing if the surface of the mirror develops humidity or not, the same thing should be done for the left nostril. If little or no humidity is seen on the surface of the mirror, this means there is a nasal obstruction and thus mouth breathing is present.
2- How can mouth breathing affect dental health?
Mouth breathers tend to have a very high risk of developing caries due to constant mouth opening, which causes dry mouth. Dry mouth provides a favorable environment for bacteria to grow, leading to more caries compared to nose breathers. Mouth breathing can also be the root cause of bad breath and gingivitis due to the high bacterial level in the dry mouth.
3- Other than dental health, can mouth breathing affect the bite?
Breathing from the mouth for a long period during the day will affect the size of the jaws and lead to small or underdeveloped jaws due to constant mouth opening. The constantly stretched facial muscles will apply inward pressure on the jaws, as seen in the pictures below. Eventually, this will lead to a long face appearance and malocclusion (faulty bite).
In addition to that, because of the constricted jaws, mouth breathers tend have a low tongue position and this is due to a lack of space for the tongue to rest in normal position in the palate. A low tongue position might lead to impaired speech in kids.
4- Are there any other signs related to mouth breathing that people may not know about?
Yes, one such sign is dental grinding (bruxism) at night. Bruxism is the act of bringing the lower jaw forward while grinding the teeth together. It is often associated with mouth breathing during sleep. Therefore, it is important for patients with bruxism to know that grinding at night could be an alarming sign of apnea occurring during their sleep, likely due to impaired nasal breathing. It should also be known that untreated dental bruxism might lead to early tooth loss due to bone loss caused by the strong forces of teeth grinding.
5- What role does the dentist play in reducing the effects of mouth breathing on dental and general health?
It should be very clear that in order to manage cases of mouth breathing, the opinion of an otorhinolaryngologist should be taken into consideration, and all measures to clear the airways should be taken. Afterwards, the role of the dentist comes into play. With kids starting at the age of 7, we tend to use appliances that help the jaws grow back into their normal positions, and then we can proceed with orthodontic treatment. In adults, custom-made appliances are also created to be worn at night, which help create a bigger airway space to prevent apnea.
6- What hygiene protocol should mouth breathers maintain for good oral health?
Since mouth breathers tend to have a higher risk of developing cavities and are more prone to gum infections due to dry mouth, these patients should adopt a meticulous oral hygiene program to avoid losing their teeth early in life.
- Brushing should be done 2 to 3 times per day using a toothpaste that contains fluoride or hydroxyapatite.
- Floss before brushing, at night.
- Avoid using mouthwashes, especially those containing alcohol, as they can increase dryness in the mouth.
- Drink a lot of water to keep the mouth hydrated.
- Chew sugar-free gums several times during the day.
- Avoid snacking on sugars and carbs, and avoid juices and sweetened drinks.
- Finally, visit the dentist every 6 months for professional cleaning.
Conclusion:
In this authoritative article, Dr. Nahla Badr, an esteemed specialist in pediatric dentistry, exposes the hidden dangers of mouth breathing while offering expert guidance to manage and mitigate its effects on oral health. With a focus on early detection, intervention, and diligent oral hygiene, this comprehensive reference serves as an invaluable resource for both professionals and individuals seeking to safeguard their dental and overall well-being.