By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Almost Anybody Qualifies for Medicaid in Maine
    November 23, 2012
    ebola and EHR
    Ebola: Are We Relying on EHR to Tell the Story?
    October 24, 2014
    Caitlin Kelly
    How Would You Fix Healthcare? – Question and Answers.
    January 16, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Bad Breathing Habits Can Affect Your Health
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > Home Health > How Bad Breathing Habits Can Affect Your Health
Home HealthWellness

How Bad Breathing Habits Can Affect Your Health

Sean Mallon
Sean Mallon
Share
5 Min Read
Sleep Latency Test
SHARE

  Breathing is an essential function that allows your body to survive by providing it with oxygen, along with allowing you to release carbon dioxide and waste. You have two air passageways leading to your lungs; your nose and your mouth. Healthy people will use both their noses and their mouths to breathe. Most of the time, breathing mainly through the mouth will only be necessary if you are suffering from nasal congestion, for example, if your nose is blocked due to a cold or an allergy. And when you’re working out hard, you might find mouth breathing easier – this is because it gets oxygen to your muscles faster. However, breathing through the mouth all the time – particularly when you’re sleeping – can lead to health problems. In children, it can lead to issues such as facial deformities, crooked teeth, or even poor growth, and for adults, it can cause gum disease and bad breath, along with worsening the symptoms of any other illnesses.

Contents
  • Why is it Best to Breathe Through Your Nose?
  • What Are the Risk Factors Associated with Mouth Breathing?
  • Which Health Problems Can Mouth Breathing Lead to?
  • How Can Mouth Breathing be Treated?

Why is it Best to Breathe Through Your Nose?

If you’re like most other people, then you’ve probably found that the importance of breathing through your nose tends to go unnoticed – until you come down with a bad cold and you can’t. A blocked nose can affect your ability to sleep well and function in general, and most people don’t realize just how badly it affects their quality of life until they’re dealing with one. Health-wise, it’s important to breathe through the nose because the nose produces nitrous oxide, which improves the ability of your lungs to absorb oxygen and increases the ability to transport oxygen throughout your body, including inside your heart. It is also antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral and antibacterial, helping your immune system fight infections.

What Are the Risk Factors Associated with Mouth Breathing?

Anyone can develop a habit of breathing through their mouth rather than their nose – especially when sleeping – but you may be more susceptible if you suffer from certain health conditions, including hay fever, chronic allergies, asthma, chronic or recurring sinus infections, or chronic stress and anxiety.

Which Health Problems Can Mouth Breathing Lead to?

Mouth breathing is very drying for your mouth – and a dry mouth means that the saliva is unable to wash bacteria from the mouth. This can lead to conditions such as halitosis (bad breath), throat and ear infections, or periodontal (gum) disease. In addition, mouth breathing may lead to a reduced oxygen concentration in the blood, which is associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and heart failure. Studies show that mouth breathing may also negatively affect lung function and worsen the symptoms of asthma.

More Read

Home Remedies for Killing Aphids
Here’s How To Trick Yourself Into Exercising More And Staying Motivated
What Are Co-Occurring Disorders? Here Are Some Contributing Factors
What Are The Benefits To Using A Personal Trainer?
Be Happier And Healthier With These Top 5 Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle

How Can Mouth Breathing be Treated?

The good news is that if you have a habit of breathing through your mouth, it is treatable. If you tend to breathe mainly through your mouth when you are asleep, you can get strips designed to stop snoring that will help you keep your mouth closed while sleeping. You might also try nasal decongestants, antihistamines, or over-the-counter or prescription steroid nasal sprays to make it easier for you to breathe through your nose. If your mouth breathing is a result of a condition called sleep apnea, your doctor will provide you with a facial mask appliance to wear at night called continuous positive air pressure therapy (CPAP), which delivers air to your nose and mouth with pressure that stops your airways from collapsing and becoming blocked. Breathing through your mouth might be the only thing that you can do when you are suffering from a congested nose, but over time, it can lead to health complications.

TAGGED:bad breathing habitsbad habitsbreathing habits
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Health Advances Fight the Dangers of Sedentary Lifestyle

May 12, 2014

Do You Know What’s in Your Pain Pill?

May 11, 2011

3 Doctor’s Telemedicine Questions Answered

July 18, 2016
Wellness

4 Ways to Halt Testosterone Problems After 40

August 10, 2017
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?