Good oral health doesn’t only depend on your brushing and flossing techniques but also your habits. For instance, teeth grinding can cause harmful dental health issues. Similarly, sleeping with your mouth open can be detrimental to your oral well-being. So if you are guilty of mouth breathing when sleeping, we got you. Just carry on reading for tips on how to stop sleeping with your mouth open.
Sleeping with Mouth Open Symptoms
Some signs that you’re sleeping with your mouth open are:
- Dry Mouth
- Bad Breath
- Brain Fog
- Snoring
- Dark Circles
- Hoarseness
- Fatigue
In children, it can look like this:
- Nighttime crying
- Problems concentrating at school
- Enlarged tonsils
- Lips are dry or cracked
- Feeling irritable
- Sleepiness
What Causes Mouth Breathing?
Most of the time, mouth breathing results from nasal obstruction. Allergies, colds, enlarged tonsils, and more, can block your nose. Apart from these, stress, anxiety, and other factors can also be why you’re sleeping with your mouth open. Deviated septum or abnormal cartilage divider in your nose can make breathing difficult. In addition, sleep disorders like sleep apnea contribute to this condition as well.
Ways to Stop Sleeping with Mouth Open
Knowing how to stop sleeping with your mouth open can help you escape the terrible consequences that it brings. Not only does it give you a dry mouth, but it can also alter your appearance by changing your face shape. And this is not where the consequences end. Hence, you should visit your dentist for sleep issues or disorders. In the meantime, here is how you can work to reduce this habit by yourself:
1. Don’t Eat Close to Bedtime
Eating and mouth breathing doesn’t seem like they are related. However, eating close to bedtime can cause blocking and inflammation, as the stomach juices can travel up your sinuses, ears, mouth, and nose.
2. Wash Your Nose
You can flush your nose with saltwater in a neti pot or squeeze bottle. This can help draw out the blocking culprits in your nose. Moreover, the clear water from the membrane may drain out, too, making it easy to stop sleeping with your mouth open.
3. Change Sleep Positions
Many people will notice that sleeping in a supine position obstructs the airways and leads to mouth breathing. In comparison, sleeping in a lateral position allows more natural and smooth breathing. Furthermore, you can always switch sides if your nose gets blocked on one side. All in all, you should sleep in a position that doesn’t interfere with nasal drainage and leaves the nose unobstructed. In this way, you can breathe freely while sleeping. The correct position goes a long way to stop sleeping with your mouth open.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is, in numerous ways, highly beneficial to your overall health. But how does it help stop sleeping with your mouth open? Well, for one, it can prevent you from becoming overweight. Gaining additional weight puts pressure on your lungs and nasal cavities, making it difficult to breathe through your nose. Additionally, eating a balanced diet can shield you from allergies and sinus issues.
5. Sleep with an Elevated Head
Another important aspect of your sleep position is the elevation of your head. Sleeping with an elevated help allows unblocked airflow, preventing mouth breathing. Not to forget, it could prevent other problems, like acid reflux. Hence, if you’re looking for tips on how to stop sleeping with your mouth open, this method can help.
6. Exercise
Exercising is another critical aspect that is good for your overall health. Try facial muscle and throat exercises to help with breathing. You can also try aerobics to reduce weight. Moreover, aerobics helps you learn to inhale and exhale oxygen to meet the increasing demand. Yoga can help you stop mouth breathing while sleeping too.
What Should I Do?
If you experience mouth breathing when sleeping, it can lead to severe consequences. Therefore, try our tips on how to stop sleeping with an open mouth. You can also visit our team at Dynamic Dental Solutions to get treatment for your oral issues. Dial (281) 837-9090 to give us a ring.