Mouth breathing at night is a common problem that many people experience. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, allergies, and even structural problems with the nose or throat. Luckily, there are also many potential fixes. In this article, we’ll look at what causes night mouth breathing and some solutions to help stop it.
What is Night Mouth Breathing?
Night mouth breathing is exactly what it sounds like: when a person breathes through their mouth while they are asleep. This can be a sign of a serious health problem, or it could simply be an annoyance. For some, it’s a passing phase, while for others, it can become a long-term issue.
In addition to the negative health effects it can have, mouth breathing at night can also affect the quality of sleep one gets. It can interrupt sleep, worsen sleep apnea, and can cause dry mouth and throat in the morning. In addition to being uncomfortable, sleep disturbances can also damage a person’s health and wreak havoc on their daily routine.
What Causes Night Mouth Breathing?
There are many potential causes of night mouth breathing. Some of the most common causes include stress, allergies, smoking, and a deviated septum. Stress can cause a person to clench their jaw and breathe through their mouth, while allergies can cause congestion and keep a person from breathing through their nose. Smoking can also cause respiratory issues that make it difficult for a person to breathe through their nose, and a deviated septum is a physical issue in which the cartilage in a person’s nose is out-of-place.
Mouth breathing can also be caused by a variety of other issues, including poor sleep posture, improper breathing techniques, and a cold or sinus infection. Certain medications can also make it difficult to breathe through the nose, and some people also experience night mouth breathing as a result of a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea.
Solutions to Night Mouth Breathing
There are a variety of solutions to stop night mouth breathing. Depending on what is causing the problem, a person might need to adjust their lifestyle or get medical treatment. Here are some of the most common solutions:
Practice Relaxation Techniques
For some people, the best way to prevent night mouth breathing is to address the underlying cause of the problem. This might require practicing relaxation techniques, using ajastra to reduce stress, or taking medications to manage anxiety. Relaxation techniques can help a person learn how to breathe more effectively and reduce their tendency to clench their jaw and breathe through their mouth.
Change Sleep Position
Changing a person’s sleep position can also help prevent night mouth breathing. Sleeping on one’s back can make it more difficult to breathe through the nose, so many people find that sleeping on their side can help alleviate the problem. These people might also want to consider using a body pillow or other sleep aids to help them maintain a healthy sleep posture.
Address Allergies and Sinus Issues
For those whose night mouth breathing is caused by allergies or other sinus issues, medications or treatments designed to address the underlying issue might be the best solution. Antihistamines and decongestants can help clear a person’s nasal passages and make it easier for them to breathe through their nose. In some cases, a person might also want to consider getting surgery to correct a deviated septum or other structural issue that is causing the problem.
Use a Mouth Guard
Sometimes, a person might benefit from using a mouth guard to stop night mouth breathing. Mouth guards are typically used by people with sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, but can also be used by those who have trouble breathing through their nose. For some people, this simple device can help them get a better night’s sleep and wake up feeling more refreshed.
Mouth breathing at night can be an annoying and uncomfortable problem, but fortunately, the solution to stopping it usually isn’t very difficult. By identifying the underlying cause of the problem and implementing some of these solutions, many people find that they can reduce or even eliminate night mouth breathing.
