You already know that brushing and flossing are important steps to preventing gum disease. However, did you know that how you breathe can play a role in its development? Breathing with your mouth open can actually increase your risk of gum disease.

Even further, if you have gum disease and breathe with your mouth open, you can increase your risk for developing respiratory issues.

Breathing Through Your Mouth

When you breathe, pay attention to where you breathe from. Most people, under normal circumstances, will breathe through their noses. However, there are some who breathe through their mouths. Most often, it is not done on purpose. There is, instead, an underlying issue, such as problems with the nasal passages.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums. As it worsens, bacteria fall under the gum line, and attack not only your gums, but your teeth and jawbone as well. Gum disease is most often caused by poor oral hygiene.

However, even if you have a meticulous oral hygiene routine, if you breathe through your mouth, you are at greater risk. This is because when you breathe through your mouth, your oral cavity dries out, a condition known as dry mouth. If your mouth lacks sufficient saliva, it cannot naturally defend itself against bacteria, so they begin to rapidly multiply.

Effects on Your Lungs
If you already have gum disease, breathing through your mouth can actually cause respiratory issues, which are often mistaken as having other causes, as most will not connect gum disease to respiratory troubles. When you breathe through your mouth, you pull bacteria into your lungs. Once there, your lungs are a moist, warm environment, perfect for fostering bacterial growth.

Getting Treatment
Treating gum disease, especially early on, is crucial for preventing not only the severe stages of gum disease, but other health issues, such as respiratory issues as well. And if your troubles are caused by open mouthed breathing, it is essential that you seek treatment for the cause.

If you are an open mouth breather, it is important to get checked to see if there is an underlying issue that causes you to do so. Furthermore, if you suspect you have gum disease, getting treatment right away is critical. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.