In addition to dry mouth, sleeping with the mouth open has been linked to sore throats and runny noses. People who use positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy for sleep apnea and who sleep with their mouths open may experience air leaks that could reduce the effectiveness of PAP treatment.
Waking Up with a Dry Mouth or a Sore Throat
In addition to this, people who have sleep disorders tend to sleep with their mouth wide open. This can dry out the throat and cause it to be scratchy or sore.
Mouth breathing can also cause you to develop serious health issues as you age, including: Sleep Disordered Breathing. Poor Jaw Alignment. Oral and Respiratory Infections.
Breathing through your mouth at night puts you at higher risk for sleep disorders including snoring, sleep apnea and hypopnea, the partial blockage of air, scientists have found. Each of those, in turn, can lead to daytime fatigue.
In many cases, the best way to stop sleeping with the mouth open is to find and treat the cause. For example, humidifiers or nasal saline sprays may help reduce nasal congestion contributing to mouth breathing. Mouth breathing due to allergies, asthma, or sinus infection may improve after treatment of these conditions.
Researchers conclude that mouth breathing might lead to changes in the posture of the head and neck, and that chronic mouth breathing can result in an “adenoid face.” This type of facial structure involves a narrow upper dental arch, changes in incisors, an imperfect lip seal, and an increased facial height.
Since your mouth opening is closed up, the only way you can bring in fresh oxygen is through the nose. Breathing through your nose is known to create more nitric oxide, which is critical for heart and lung function. This practice also discourages sleep apnea and sleep deprivation.
According to the survey data, 71% of beds across America are host to a mouth breather. The most common signs of mouth breathing reported were being awoken by nighttime nasal congestion (75%) waking up with a dry mouth (61%), and snoring (37%).
Both viral and bacterial infections can be behind your sore throat upon waking. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common causes and include the common cold, flu (both viral) and more serious infections such as strep throat, which is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes.
Breathing through your mouth — often because of chronic nasal congestion — also can cause a dry, sore throat. Irritants. Outdoor air pollution and indoor pollution such as tobacco smoke or chemicals can cause a chronic sore throat. Chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods also can irritate your throat.
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, happens when you don't make enough saliva (spit). Saliva is important for mouth health. A lack of saliva can lead to tooth decay. Dry mouth symptoms include discomfort, sore throat and swallowing problems.
It can also come from overusing your voice, having a dry mouth, sleeping with your mouth open or a burn from swallowing hot food. However, colds and the flu are the most common causes.
Proper resting mouth position:
– A closed mouth with lips sealed together without strain. – Breathing (in and out) through the nose. – Tongue relaxed along palate, resting behind but NOT pushing against the front teeth.
If you are a chronic mouth breather, your face will be narrow with a poor definition in your cheekbones. When breathing through your mouth, you tend to tilt your head backwards increasing cranial contents in the back portion of your brain. This has a direct result on your posture and shape of your face and neck.
Background: Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are mouth-breathers. Mouth-breathing not only narrows the upper airway, consequently worsening the severity of OSA, but also it affects compliance with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.
There are two primary reasons for mouth-breathing during sleep. The first is that there may be an issue with or blockage in your nasal airway, such as a deviated septum and congestion. The second is simply due to bad habits.
Overall, a reduction in the synaptic connections made in the brain. Increases in the levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which can lead to anxiety and aggressive behavior. This is also why children with sleep apnea often manifest symptoms of a hyperactivity disorder such as ADD or ADHD.
Long term mouth breathing can lead to a myriad of oral issues including crowded teeth, cracked lips, caries (or cavities), gum disease and more. But the issues don't stop at the mouth. Mouth breathers are also more likely to experience digestive issues, chronic fatigue, morning headaches and sore throat.