Breathing through the mouth stresses you more than you think

Did you know that breathing through your mouth is not the best for your health? Although it may seem like more air gets in, this way of breathing can actually cause stress, sleep problems, crooked teeth and even anxiety. Your nose isn’t just for smelling… it’s also essential for breathing properly!

When you breathe through your mouth, your body activates the sympathetic nervous system, known as the “alert” system. This causes your heart to beat faster, muscle tension to increase and more cortisol, the stress hormone, to be released. In other words, breathing through your mouth puts your body in constant stress mode.

Instead, breathing through the nose activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you relax, rest better and sleep soundly. In addition, the nose filters, warms and humidifies the air, and produces nitric oxide, a substance that improves oxygen absorption throughout the body.

Functional medicine warns that mouth breathing, especially at night, can have negative consequences in both children and adults. For example, it can lead to snoring, tiredness upon waking, jaw tension and even bruxism (clenching your teeth while sleeping).

In children, mouth breathing affects facial development: it can cause crooked teeth, a narrower palate and bite problems. It is also associated with more infections, allergies and difficulty concentrating, because the brain does not receive enough oxygen during the night.

In adults, mouth breathing can increase anxiety. Lack of proper oxygen causes the brain to send alarm signals, causing restlessness, nervousness and fatigue without an apparent cause.

What to do? Observe how you breathe during the day and when you sleep. Try closing your mouth and breathing slowly and deeply through your nose. Practice conscious nasal breathing and, if you find it difficult to maintain it at night, there are specific techniques to train your body, such as exercises with nasal tape or changes in your habits.

Remember: to sleep better, reduce stress and take care of your oral health, breathe through your nose. Your body will thank you.