Are You a Mouth Breather?
Here’s How It Can Affect Your Teeth

Are you a mouth breather? You may not know for certain as mouth breathing usually occurs when you’re sleeping. One clue? You often wake up in the morning with a dry mouth.

If you are a mouth breather, you’re in good company. About 30–50% of adults regularly breathe through their mouths. And mouth breathing doesn’t discriminate with age either, as around 21% of kids from 3 to 18 years old are mouth breathers.

So, what’s the big deal with a little on-going mouth breathing – besides snoring and a dry mouth? It can negatively impact your dental health, not to mention your sleep, and overall health..

Mouth Breathing vs. Nose Breathing

It might seem obvious, but mouth breathing is when you inhale and exhale primarily through your mouth instead of your nose — especially during your sleep. While a certain amount of mouth breathing is normal, like when you have a cold, or a stuffy nose, chronic mouth breathing means your mouth has become your default airway, instead of your nose.

Breathing through your nose naturally filters, warms, and moistens the air before it enters your lungs. This process also helps release nitric oxide, which improves how your body absorbs oxygen, and it keeps your mouth from drying out. When you rely on mouth breathing, you lose the protective functions of nasal breathing.

How to Tell if You’re a Mouth Breather

If you sleep within the vicinity of anyone else, you may have been rudely alerted that you snore – now that’s a sign.

Here the most obvious signs:

• You snore or breathe loudly at night.
• You wake up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or cracked lips.
• Your tongue rests low in your mouth, instead of lightly pressed against the roof.
• You have chronic nasal congestion or feel like you “can’t breathe through your nose”.
• Your mouth hangs open when you’re at rest or focused.
• You feel fatigued during the day even when you’ve had a full night’s sleep.

What Causes Mouth Breathing?

Whatever age you are, there are a variety of reasons as to why you might breathe through your mouth instead of through your nose. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Allergies or Ongoing Nasal Congestion — Chronic allergies or frequent colds can block the nasal passages.
• Deviated Nasal Septum or A Narrow Nasal Airway — either condition will make nasal breathing more difficult.
• Enlarged Tonsils — Especially in children, these can force mouth breathing around the clock.
• A Sleep Disorder — Mouth breathing can sometimes hint at an airway issue, like snoring or interrupted breathing during sleep such as sleep apnea.
• Habitual Mouth Breathing — Sometimes, mouth breathing starts during an illness or congestion but continues as a habit even after nasal breathing becomes possible again. This is common in children but it can persist into adulthood.

How Does Mouth Breathing Affect Your Oral Health?

• Dry Mouth – Breathing through your mouth can leave your mouth dry all the time. Without enough saliva to wash away bacteria and protect your gums, your risk of cavities and gum disease goes up.
• Bad Breath (Halitosis) – not good for you or anyone around you.
• Gum Disease – Breathing through your mouth can dry out your gums, reduce saliva’s natural protection, and let harmful bacteria build up. Over time, this can make your gums red, swollen, and more likely to develop gum disease.
• Increased Plaque, Tartar – With less saliva, sticky plaque (a film of bacteria on the teeth) builds up faster and hardens into tartar (a rough deposit that can’t be removed by brushing).
• Teeth Grinding – Mouth breathers may also clench or grind their teeth more (due to sleep disruption) and experience heavier wear and ear on their tooth enamel and also damage existing dental restorations, such as fillings, crowns, or veneers.
• Jaw Disorders – When you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose, it shifts your jaw and tongue position and increases muscle tension. These changes can gradually put stress on the jaw joints, sometimes leading to jaw pain or dysfunction.

How Your Dental Team Can Protect Your Teeth (If You Are a Mouth Breather)

1. Apply Topical Fluoride Treatments
   Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps protect against decay — especially important for dry mouths. Your dental team may recommend in-office fluoride varnish or custom fluoride trays for home use. And fluoride treatments aren’t just for kids – adults, especially mouth breathers, can benefit from them too.
2. Recommend a High-Fluoride or Prescription Toothpaste
   These toothpastes contain higher levels of fluoride (e.g., 5000 ppm) and are ideal for high-risk patients, like mouth breathers with low saliva flow. We may also recommend a fluoride rinse.
3. Monitor Your Gum Health More Closely 
   Mouth breathers are at higher risk for gum disease and recession, so your dentist may recommend more frequent teeth cleanings, or a deep teeth cleaning every 3–4 months instead of 6. This helps catch early signs of gingivitis or gum disease before they worsen.
4. Fit You with a Custom Night Guard
   Mouth breathing is often linked to bruxism (teeth grinding), especially in people with sleep-disordered breathing. One of our custom-fitted night guards can protect your tooth enamel and jaw joints while you sleep.

Breathing through your mouth might not seem like a big deal, but over time it can take a real toll on your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. The good news is that we’re here to help protect your oral health and your smile. We’ll can help identify possible causes and recommend treatments, and tips, to keep your mouth healthy and comfortable.

If you’ve noticed dry mouth issues, bad breath, soreness in your jaws, or any recent gum irritation, please don’t ignore the signs. Whether it’s you, or someone in your family, please reach out to us! Just give us a call at (206) 242-0066 to schedule a check-up or reach out to us online!