Mouth breathing can be a troublesome problem. Thankfully, for many people, it is temporary and mainly occurs during illnesses that cause sinus congestion. However, there are cases in which mouth breathing can be chronic. Chronic mouth breathing can have many causes, including enlarged tonsils or adenoids, deviated nasal septum, nasal or upper airway obstruction, and underdeveloped or malformed jaws.
Unfortunately, if you mouth breathe due to any of these conditions, it often does not stop there. Mouth breathing can cause a number of side effects that make daily life uncomfortable and even dangerous. From an increased risk of sleep apnea to breathing problems, behavior disorders, and cavities or gum disease, breathing solely through your mouth can cause a host of issues throughout the body.
But one particularly uncomfortable side effect of mouth breathing could be causing you undue pain and suffering. It’s called acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid reflux occurs when your stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, causing everything from heartburn to regurgitation to throat irritation.
But how does breathing cause it? Here are just a few ways your mouth breathing can cause acid reflux – and what you can do about it.
How Mouth Breathing Causes Acid Reflux
Reduced Production of Saliva
Saliva is essential for keeping the mouth moisturized and helping to wash away bits of food from our mouths. It can even help neutralize dangerous plaque bacteria and help neutralize stomach acid too.
Unfortunately, a lack of saliva (also known as xerostomia) can cause acid reflux, especially at night. Saliva maintains the pH balance in the mouth and esophagus. Without saliva, your body has less protection against that uncomfortable acid many mouth breathers are all too familiar with.
Poor Airway Function
There are many causes of mouth breathing, including airway issues such as nasal congestion, allergies or anatomical abnormalities. These problems have been known to cause improper closure of the esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscular valve that separates the esophagus from your stomach. Unfortunately, when your esophageal sphincter does not work correctly, it can let stomach acid escape and flow back into your esophagus, which can, in turn, contribute to acid reflux.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea occurs from an obstruction in the airway while sleeping. Sleep apnea causes the patient to wake repeatedly throughout the night as they struggle to breathe. Sleep apnea can also worsen many medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and anxiety and depression.
Some patients who mouth breathe may also suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can increase the pressure on your abdomen, which in turn may promote acid reflux. Furthermore, the disruptions to your sleep pattern due to sleep apnea can also encourage acid reflux during the night.
Swallowing Air
When you mouth breathe, you are more likely to swallow air, which can contribute to or cause bloating and abdominal pressure. The pressure in the abdomen in turn can push stomach acid back into your esophagus, which can worsen symptoms.
Throat Irritation
When you mouth breathe, you are putting more emphasis on your throat and mouth, meaning you can quickly dry out and irritate your throat. A dry mouth, in turn, can make your throat more susceptible to the painful side effects of acid reflux. A dry mouth and throat can also increase the perception of your acid reflux side effects, because your throat is already irritated.
Mouth Breathing and Acid Reflux
Thankfully, not everyone who mouth breathes will develop acid reflux, and for those who do experience acid reflux, it may not be caused by your mouth breathing; that being said, if you suffer from both chronic mouth breathing and frequent acid reflux, there could be a profound connection between the two.
If you suffer from both acid reflux and mouth breathing, Dr. Kelley Mingus and the Bend Headache Center offer solutions that can help you breathe easier and reduce the instances of acid reflux you may experience due to your mouth breathing.
Don’t be resigned to believing that breathing through your mouth is simply a way of life. Contact Dr. Mingus today for a consultation to discuss your options for correcting your mouth breathing and acid reflux.
