Mouth breathing may cause adverse health effects--study

Labeled as a condition caused due to a seasonal allergy in springs, ‘mouth breathing’ is a problem that many professional doctors don’t understand, according to the study authors.

It may be noted that dentists advise patients to visit their clinic every six months and so they can easily detect symptoms of mouth breathing and prevent the consequences caused by the problem.

Dr Yosh Jefferson who operates the DMD clinic in New Jersey led the research and "Allergies can cause upper airway obstruction, or mouth breathing, in patients. Almost every family has someone with mouth breathing problems.”

Study details
Dr Jefferson studied the adverse effects of mouth breathing problems in children and found that if not treated in time, children with the problem can develop long, narrow faces and mouth, gummy smiles, gingivitis and crooked teeth.

Also sleep problems caused due to mouth breathing can lead to loss of concentration, irritation and fall in academic achievements. Poor oxygen concentration in the blood can also occur due to breathing from the mouth and this invites high blood pressure, heart ailments, and other medical problems.

“Many of these children are misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity,” Dr Jefferson speculates.

Treating mouth breathing
Mouth breathing is not an untreatable condition but treatment becomes easier if identified early, finds the present study.

Dr Jefferson advises dentists to check symptoms of mouth breathing and swollen tonsils and recommend treatment for the patient.

“After surgery and/or orthodontic intervention, many patients show improvement in behavior, energy level, academic performance, peer acceptance and growth,” says Leslie Grant, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.

“Seeking treatment for mouth breathing can significantly improve quality of life,” adds Grant.

The article on mouth breathing has been published in the latest issue of the General Dentistry.

Brushing keeps teeth healthy
Another study by researchers from the Buffalo School of Dental Medicine finds that using a toothpaste containing triclosan/copolymer is better at killing the germs infesting the teeth than regular fluoride pastes.

Dr Joseph J Zambon, lead author of study claims, “Manufacturers add specific agents to toothpastes to provide added benefits to consumers. Triclosan added to toothpaste has been shown in a number of clinical studies to inhibit plaque and gingivitis.”

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends flossing and rinsing mouth daily along with brushing twice a day for healthy and germ free teeth.