1. It Can Lead to Dry Mouth
Having your mouth ajar for long stretches causes your saliva, which normally keeps your mouth tissues hydrated, to evaporate, per the
Cleveland Clinic. As a result, your mouth is more likely to feel dry or chalky.
2. It Can Make Your Breath Stink
In addition to helping your mouth stay moist, saliva helps keep bacteria at bay. When your mouth gets dry, nasty bugs start to flourish that can
make your breath stink, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
3. You Might Get More Cavities
Over time, a mouth-breathing habit can up the risk for
tooth decay.
"Our saliva acts as a buffer to protect our teeth," says
Richard Lipari, DDS, a dentist in Chappaqua, New York. "When our mouth is dry we have less of that protection and the chance for cavities increases."
4. You Might Be More Prone to Respiratory Infections
The more you breathe through your mouth, the more likely you might be to catch a cold.
Air that reaches the airway through the mouth tends to be colder, dryer, and less filtered than air coming in through the nose (we'll explain why a little later). This can cause the airways themselves to become dryer and more irritated, making them more susceptible to infection, De Vries says.
5. It Increases Your Risk for Sleep Apnea
Perhaps worst of all, mouth-breathing can make it harder to get a good night's sleep, which can
have a serious domino effect on your health.
"Mouth-breathing can cause the throat and surrounding muscles to weaken over time. This weakening can lead to snoring or
sleep apnea," De Vries explains.
If left untreated, that could lead to problems including daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, heart problems and type 2 diabetes, per the
Mayo Clinic.
