Oral breathing can occur when there is a change in the airways that prevents proper air from passing through the nasal passage, such as a septum deviation or polyps, or occurs as a result of a cold or flu, sinusitis or allergy.
Although breathing through the mouth is not life-threatening, as it still allows air to enter the lungs, this habit, over the years, can cause slight changes in the anatomy of the face, especially in the position of the tongue, lips. head, difficulty concentrating, due to reduced oxygen in the brain, cavity or gum problems, due to lack of saliva.
- Therefore.
- It is important that the cause of oral breathing be identified as soon as possible.
- Especially in children.
- So that the habit breaks down and complications are avoided.
Breathing through the mouth can cause certain signs and symptoms that are not normally identified by the person breathing through the mouth, but by the people you live with. Signs and symptoms that can help identify a person breathing through the mouth include:
Other warning signs may occur in children, however, such as slower-than-normal growth, constant irritability, concentration problems at school, and difficulty sleeping at night.
In addition, when breathing through the mouth becomes frequent and occurs even after treating the airways and eliminating adenoid vegetation, for example, the person may be diagnosed with oral respiratory syndrome, in which changes in posture may be noticed. and in the position of narrower, elongated teeth and face.
Oral breathing is common in cases of allergies, rhinitis, colds and flu, where excess secretions prevent breathing from occurring naturally through the nose, which is equivalent to normal breathing when treating these situations.
However, other situations can also cause the person to breathe through the mouth, such as an enlarged tonsil and adenoid vegetation, a deviation from the nasal septum, the presence of nasal polyps, changes in the bone development process and the presence of tumors, for example, situations are identified and treated correctly to avoid consequences and complications.
In addition, people whose nose or jaw shape changes also have a greater tendency to breathe through the mouth and develop oral breathing syndrome. Normally, when the person has this syndrome, even with the treatment of the cause, the person continues to breathe through the mouth because of the habit they have created.
Therefore, it is important that the cause of breathing in the mouth is identified and treated, and it is therefore important to consult the otolaryngologist or pediatrician, in the case of the child, so that the signs and symptoms he or she presents for the diagnosis are evaluated and indicated. the most appropriate treatment.
Treatment is based on the cause that leads the person to breathe through the mouth and usually involves a multiprofessional team of doctors, dentists and speech therapists.
If this is related to changes in the airways, such as a septum deviation or inflamed tonsils, surgery may be needed to correct the problem and allow air to pass through the nose again.
In cases where the person starts breathing through the mouth for a habit, it is necessary to identify whether this habit is caused by stress or anxiety, and if so it is recommended to consult a psychologist or participate in relaxing activities that relieve tension. when while helping to train your breath.