The problem with mouth breathing
By Emily Pezet (Speech Pathologist)
Photo owner: Unknown
The human body employs some undeniably amazing compensatory mechanisms in order to help us survive. Mouth breathing is one of those compensatory mechanisms, used to maintain normal levels of oxygen in the body’s tissues and organs when the nasal cavity is obstructed (i.e. when adenoid tissue is too large or we have congestion due to an illness).
So, is mouth breathing a good thing?
Of course, it is! It keeps us alive. However, it’s important to remember that this is compensatory. When you injure a muscle, the other muscles around that area compensate until the injured muscle has recovered. If the muscles have to compensate for too long, they begin to suffer and create more issues. Mouth breathing is much the same. Sometimes extended compensatory mouth breathing can become habitual, other times, it’s indicating an underlying structural issue that needs to be addressed, before nasal breathing can be re-established.
Here are some key differences between mouth breathing and nasal breathing:
Unlike the mouth, the nasal cavity works to warm, humidify and filter the air that we breathe in, so when that air gets to the lungs, it’s high quality for optimal absorption.
Nasal breathing stimulates the release of a chemical called Nitric Oxide – Nitric Oxide works to dilate the vessels in the tissues and the bronchioles in the lungs. This allows for maximum oxygen absorption and transport to the tissues and organs.
When we breathe nasally, the mouth can remain closed and the tongue can rest on the roof of the mouth. This supports proper growth and development of the jaw and face.
Mouth breathing can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Mouth breathing during the night places a person at higher risk of sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea and hypopnoea.
Mouth breathing can lead to reduced immunity and increased risk of illness.
Symptoms and Consequences of Mouth Breathing:
Open mouth posture at rest
Dry mouth
Snoring during sleep
More frequent illness and infection
Improper development of the upper and/or lower jaw
Dental malocclusion (crooked teeth)
Hyperactivity, irritability, impulsiveness, behavioural challenges
Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, reduced academic performance
Speech sound distortions
Poor sleep quality
- Impaired growth and development
So, what is a Speech Pathologists Role?
Whilst Speech Pathologists may not be trained to treat disordered breathing or structural abnormalities of the face, we are experts of the mouth, and are trained to look at our clients holistically.
Here are the ways that oral structure and functioning can affect communication:
Speech sound production can become distorted – particularly the sounds /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, /n/, /l/
Improper functioning or structure of the mouth can affect eating skills
Mouth breathing can affect ability to concentrate at school and access the curriculum for learning
A child with affected breathing or sleep quality may be more irritable, which can affect how they respond to adverse situations and impact on their relationships with peers.
We want the best for our clients and for them to be functioning well in all areas! Speech Pathologist know what to look out for and when to refer to and collaborate with the appropriate professionals, to optimise our clients’ chances at success.
You can find more information on mouth breathing here: