South Palm Beach Today

• Mouth breathing can lead to dental issues, including gingivitis and cavity development.

• As many as 60% of adults breathe through their mouth.

• Procedures such as a balloon sinuplasty or endoscopy can help a patient to breathe better through their nose.

It's not natural to breathe through your mouth, as it can lead to other health problems. That's why it's important to treat your sinus issues early, according to Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

"People don't understand that we are obligate nose-breathers," Aull told South Palm Beach Today. "Our body is designed to breathe through the nose. The nose is an organ that is built and formed perfectly. The mouth can also be breathed through, but it is not ideal in any way, shape or form."

There are structures inside the nose that warm and humidify air so it can be presented to the lungs at the right temperature and the right humidity, he explained.

"It can be filtered," Aull said. "If you are breathing through your mouth, you've just lost all of those benefits. So now you're breathing into your lungs, and things that should have been filtered in the nose air are not warmed and humidified to the amount that they should be. On top of that, now you're going to be drying out your mouth and throat, irritating your throat, making it more susceptible to infections."

According to Healthline, mouth breathing can dry out your mouth, creating the proper environment for gingivitis and cavity development.

KTM Yoga reports that, although people should breathe through their noses most of the time, as many as 60% of adults often breathe through their mouths. Hair and mucus within the nose act as filters that trap bacteria and dust. Nasal breathing also increases oxygen intake and boosts brain activity. Another benefit of breathing through the nose is that it helps to slow airflow, which widens blood vessels and slows the heart rate, leading to a feeling of calm.    

People who suffer from allergies or chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, but mouth breathing can lead to oral health issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. Mouth breathing dries up saliva, which then allows bacteria and plaque to build up on the teeth, which can cause cavities, gum disease and chronic bad breath.

Regularly breathing through the mouth can also, over time, lead to strained jaw joints, snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils and a higher risk for airway disorders, such as asthma.

According to WebMD, people who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty. Endoscopy is a common procedure, during which doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera lens that sends images back to a screen, allowing the doctor to see where the sinuses are blocked and guide the other instruments to gently remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.

Doctors won’t cut into the skin, so your recovery should be relatively fast and easy. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area will be made numb and the patient remains awake.

Another newer treatment is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion.          

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.