6 Side Effects Of
Sleeping With Mouth Open
Have you woken up at night often feeling your mouth
is dry as a desert? This could be because you are breathing through your mouth
while sleeping with your mouth open. Nasal congestion is one of the primary
reasons for breathing through your mouth and the other reasons could be a
deviated septum, nasal polyps, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
Normal nasal breathing moistens the air and traps
the foreign particles, allowing humidified air to enter the lungs. But, in the
case of mouth breathing, dry air enters your lungs giving rise to various
issues. Mentioned below are the side effects of sleeping with your mouth open.
Side
Effects Of Sleeping With Mouth Open
1.
Halitosis
Commonly known as bad breath, halitosis is an
unpleasant condition for both you and the people around you. Breathing through
the mouth causes dryness, reducing the level of saliva secretion. Saliva
contains enzymes that kill the bacteria and keep your mouth wet, avoiding bad
breath. Lack of the same doesn’t just let the bacteria enter your
system but hampers your oral health.
2.
Tooth Decay And Gingivitis
Saliva, apart from keeping the bacteria at bay, also
protects the enamel of the teeth. And, as mentioned previously, breathing
through the mouth reduces saliva secretion. Decreased concentration of salivary
enzymes causes erosion of the enamel, resulting in cavity and decay.
The bacteria also attack the gums, leading to an
infection called gingivitis. When left untreated, gingivitis could cause the
separation of the gums from the teeth.
3.
Asthma
If you already have asthma, sleeping with mouth open
aggravates your symptoms. This is because the air is not filtered like in
the nasal cavity and the probability of inhaling potent allergens like pollen
or dust is increased. The already hampered airways swell and in severe cases
lead to an asthma attack.
4.
Abnormal Swallowing
You are more likely to make an extra effort by
thrusting your tongue forward to swallow rather than closing your
mouth when the mouth is dry. This extra effort doesn’t just cause fatigue
but also makes you swallow more air. This leads to further issues like
gastritis and acid reflux.
5.
Snoring
Sleeping with mouth open causes your soft palate
(the back of the roof of the mouth) and uvula (the fleshy extension projecting
downward the palate) to vibrate. This results in snoring. Snoring further
leads to other complications like obstructive sleep apnea, which is a serious
health condition.
6.
Throat Infection
Breathing through the mouth not only dries up your
mouth but also dries up your throat. Getting up with a sore throat often
might be an indication that you are sleeping with your mouth open. The
unfiltered air is again to blame for, as it causes severe throat infections due
to allergens or bacteria.
It is good to not prolong consulting with your
doctor if you observe yourself or your loved ones sleeping with the mouth open.
Children, especially, face severe abnormalities like facial deformities and
poor growth if they continue to mouth breathe. Thus, adequate medical help is
mandatory.
SOURCE: BreathNice
No comments:
Post a Comment