Correlation between mouth breathing and snoring

If your patient is a ‘mouth breather’, then they are more likely to suffer with sleep apnoea or snore than a natural ‘nose breather’.

Learning to breathe through the nose has many benefits in addition to curbing snoring. According to experts, the nose acts as an incredibly effective natural filter and removes 98-99% allergens, viruses, bacteria and pollutants.

Breathing practitioner and dental hygienist Tim Ives, says “Our nose is a very effective natural filter and does a great job at keeping many airborne viruses at bay. Our noses filter 98% of bacteria and allergens so breathing through our noses is recommended if you’re looking for viral protection.”

Mouth breathing patients can expect their smell and taste senses to be impacted, with appetite and satiation levels distorted. This can greatly affect someone with dietary struggles or weight problems.

Mouth breathers are also at risk of limiting nitric oxide, which increases oxygen absorption in our lungs by 10-25% and can kill bacteria, viruses, and other germs.

Depriving ourselves of this gas can cause a lot of health concerns. In fact, nitric oxide has been found to help memory, it can assist the immune system in fighting off bacteria, regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, improve sleep quality, increase endurance and strength, and assist in gastric motility. On top of all of that, nitric oxide has been shown to have cardiovascular benefits.

There is a vital nervous system that connects our lungs and heart to our noses. Mouth breathing can have adverse effects on our cardiovascular health which can bring about altered heart rates, blood pressure issues and an increase in stress responses.

“Mouth breathing is not difficult to fix once it is brought to the attention of patients”, says Ives. “It’s important to know where the issue stems from. Is it an ingrained habit or is it caused by nasal inflammation or blockage? Difficulty in nose breathing can be caused by a number of different issues - the most commonly blocked sinuses, flu, colds, seasonal allergies. Xlear Nasal Spray can help by cleansing and moisturising the nasal airway, allowing you to breathe better.  It can also both combat and prevent these conditions by preventing contaminant adhesion to the nasal passageways.”

“Xlear, contains xylitol for its natural bactericidal qualities and grapefruit seed with its toxicity to viruses, are at a significantly lower risk for contracting respiratory infections.  It is recommended that you use Xlear’s Nasal Spray once in the morning and once at night for ultimate protection against airborne contaminants, and if you do get ill, use Xlear up to 4 times daily to recover faster.”

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