Why Is Nasal Breathing So Important?

Maybe you’ve heard how detrimental mouth breathing can be or maybe you’ve heard of mouth taping and are confused why someone would do that. In this post, I am going to quickly discuss some of the top reasons nasal breathing is so important.

Air Quality

Our nose works to filter, humidify, and bring air to a desirable temperature all in preparation for our lungs. If we’re breathing through our mouths, these steps are not being completed. In turn, we are introducing bacteria and pathogens through our mouths into our lungs. Mouth breathers are far more prone to upper respiratory infections and allergies. This starts a vicious cycle. Mouth breathing -> allergies develop -> nasal obstruction occurs -> mouth breathing is now the only option and thus, the cycle continues.

Growth and Development

Breathing through our nose means that our mouth is closed and (hopefully) our tongues are lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth. In childhood when growth and development of the cranial/facial structure is still happening, the tongue works as a natural palatal expander- growing the face broader and forward. Without proper oral rest posture with the tongue up and breathing through the nose, the palate will grow high and narrow. A high and narrow palate encroaches on the nasal cavity space and can cause septal deviations, which can lead to nasal obstruction and decreased air uptake capacity. With a broad and forward palate, we are able to erupt all 32 teeth without assistance from orthodontics, optimum growth of the airway, and a symmetrical/desirable facial structure.

Better Sleep

We all know that the body needs sleep and about the benefits of adequate sleep, but not all sleep is created equal. Sleep quality is drastically affected by the quality of our breathing. Breathing in and out through the nose releases nitric oxide, which works to widen blood vessels and improve oxygen circulation throughout the body. We also breathe slower through the nose, which decreases stress and anxiety. All of which improves sleep quality! Nasal breathing also decreases bad breath, risk of tooth decay (due to dry mouth), risk of sleep apnea, and snoring. Snoring can be the result of nasal obstruction, but it can also be the body’s way of compensating for airway issues. Snoring keeps the body in a lighter state of sleep, which prevents us from choking or stopping breathing all together.

There are so many benefits to nasal breathing that I didn’t cover in this post, but just know NOSE IS KING! We should all, children and adults, strive to breathe in and out through our noses day and night.