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We all breathe with our noses and mouths – there is no avoiding it. Our noses are designed to filter air to optimize the oxygen getting to our brain while our mouths filter and warm the air. Mouth breathing has shown to be beneficial for people who have difficulty breathing through their nose due to allergies or nasal congestion

However, chronic mouth breathing, meaning breathing through the mouth for prolonged periods of time, has been found to have long-term negative health consequences, including headaches.

In this article, we’ll explore the connection between chronic mouth breathing and headaches and look at some treatment options.

What Is Chronic Mouth Breathing?

Chronic mouth breathing is when a person breathes through their mouth rather than their nose for prolonged periods of time. It is often a habit that develops after having a cold or some other upper respiratory infection or simply out of necessity due to nasal congestion.

Sometimes this can take place during the day while the person is awake and other times while they are sleeping.

However, if this habit becomes long-term and is not treated, chronic mouth breathing can have negative health consequences.

Health Risks of Chronic Mouth Breathing

Medical experts link chronic mouth breathing to a variety of health concerns. The air entering the body through the nose is filtered, warmed, and moistened before entering the respiratory system, but air entering the body through the mouth bypasses these filtration and protective mechanisms.

Therefore, chronic mouth breathing can disrupt the natural balance of the body and lead to several health problems:

Atrophic rhinitis:

This is a condition where the nasal mucous membranes become inflamed and eroded, leading to nasal crusting, bleeding, pain, and discharge.

Halitosis:

Mouth breathing can cause bad breath because the air bypasses the natural filtering mechanisms in the nasal passages.

Decongestants, antihistamines, and steroids:

These are all commonly used medications for nasal congestion that can lead to dependency and even the creation of allergies due to overuse in chronic mouth breathers.

Crooked teeth and facial deformities:

When children breathe through their mouth too often, it can lead to decreased tongue control, an elongated face, and even dental deformation.

Headaches:

Chronic mouth breathing has been linked to tension headaches and migraines.

The Link Between Chronic Mouth Breathing and Headaches

When you breathe through your mouth, you use the accessory muscle that is present in the neck and chest area instead of the primary muscles in the diaphragm and abdomen. This method is considered less efficient because it requires more effort and energy.

Thus, chronic mouth breathing can lead to an overuse and strain of the accessory muscles as well as an imbalance of muscle activity and altered chest wall mechanics.

This can lead to neck and upper back pain, tension headaches, and even dizziness and fainting due to changes in blood flow to the brain.

Without addressing the underlying cause of the headaches – chronic mouth breathing – even pain medications and other treatments will be less effective in reducing headache frequency and intensity.

Treating Chronic Mouth Breathing to Reduce Headaches

The first step in treating chronic mouth breathing is to determine the cause. If the breathing problem is due to an underlying medical condition like allergies or a deviated septum, then the treatment will depend on the cause.

For many people, simple lifestyle changes can be effective in reducing chronic mouth breathing and the health consequences it poses. Getting enough quality sleep is essential to help the body rejuvenate and heal itself.

If the problem is occurring at night, using a nasal saline spray or room humidifier can help clear the nasal passages.

Also, practicing respiratory exercises can help retrain the body to breathe through the nose for deeper, more efficient breaths.

The Connection Explained

Chronic mouth breathing has been linked to several health problems, including headaches.

The primary cause for this link is that when a person breathes through their mouth, they use the accessory muscles of the neck and chest instead of the primary muscles in the diaphragm and abdomen, which can lead to muscle strain, altered chest wall mechanics, and headaches.

Therefore, to reduce headaches, the underlying cause of chronic mouth breathing must be treated and the individual must practice respiratory exercises to retrain the body to breathe more efficiently with the nose.