Mouth breathing dangerous for health: Study
Reported April 07, 2010
Chicago: Contrary to popular belief that mouth breathing does not have any adverse effects, a new study has found that it can lead to major health problems if left untreated for long, especially in children.
A research by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) in US showed that over time, children whose mouth breathing goes untreated may suffer from abnormal facial and dental development, such as long, narrow faces and mouths, gummy smiles, gingivitis and crooked teeth.
In addition, mouth breathing can cause poor oxygen concentration in the bloodstream, which can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, sleep apnea and other medical issues, General Dentistry journal reported.
“Children who mouth breathe typically do not sleep well, causing them to be tired during the day and possibly unable to concentrate on academics,” said lead author Yosh Jefferson.
He said, “The physical, medical and social problems associated with mouth breathing are not recognised by most health care professionals”.
The researchers said that dentists typically request that their patients return every six months as a result, they may be the first to identify the symptoms of mouth breathing and thus they should not take it lightly and help prevent the adverse effects.
“Allergies can cause upper airway obstruction or mouth breathing, Jefferson said adding “treatment for mouth breathing is available and can be beneficial for children if the condition is caught early”.
“A dentist can check for mouth breathing symptoms and swollen tonsils. If tonsils and/or adenoids are swollen, they can be surgically removed by an ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialist”.
Source: Zee News Limited
