Mouth Breathing and its effect on your body

January 18, 2011 by ·

Mouth breathing:

  1. Can increase asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical problems
  2. Reduces the levels of oxygen exchange in the blood/lung interface. The lungs extract oxygen from the air we breathe primarily on the exhale. Because the nostrils are smaller then the mouth, air exhaled through the nose creates back pressure when one exhales. It slows the air escape so the lungs have more time to extract oxygen from them.
  3. During sleep, it predisposes one to loud snoring and irregular breathing and can lead to a serious condition called Sleep Apnea and heart conditions.

Nose Breathing:

  1. Proper nose breathing reduces high blood pressure or hypertension and stress for most people. Kind of like a speed control (governor) on a car engine.
  2. The nostrils and sinuses filter and warm the air going into the lungs. The mouth breather bypasses this.
  3. Maintaining a keen sense of smell is very important for enjoying life and for safety and social acceptance.  There are receptors in the nose, known as olfactory bulbs, are direct extensions of a part of the brain known as  the hypothalamus. This extension regulates the heartbeat, blood pressure, thirst, appetite, and of course, the cycles of sleeping a waking. The hypothalamus is also responsible for generating chemicals that influence memory and emotion.
  4. Lessening of the common cold is another good reason for nose breathing. The mucous (white blood cells that kill germs) membrane lining the nose extends all the way from the inner linings of the nostrils down the trachea to the bronchi the directly enters the lungs. Germs get caught and die in the mucous.

Long term mouth breathers experience difficulty in swallowing pills, increased gagging response, increased mucous production and other difficulties.

Mouth breathers do not adjust the way they swallow as an infant.  Typically infants project their tongues out to swallow and transition at around 8 months old so that their tongue is positioned along the top of their palate when swallowing.  Pacifiers and thumb sucking also affects the tongue position during the developmental years. If they aren’t removed early enough the tongue continues to push out beyond the front teeth preventing normal jaw and teeth development.  The relationship of the upper and lower teeth is also affected since they have to accommodate the tongue.  I have seen in adult patients the affects of this and it is almost impossible to change the jaws without surgery.  They usually have an open bite on their front teeth so that when they bite together the front top teeth don’t overlap the lower front teeth.  This is not cosmetically appealing and it has negative effects on the health of the jaw joint.

Allergies also are responsible for the mouth breathing tendencies.  The pharynx (back of throat) swells blocking off the nasal passage preventing smooth airflow through the nose.  It is important to determine what children are allergic to as soon as possible so that the destructive forces of mouth breathing are minimized.

As an adult it is best to retrain yourself to nose breathe during the day.  There are devices you can put in your mouth at night to retrain your tongue and help with nose breathing.  In fact, I had a patient the other day who was having a very difficult time breathing.  His CPAP breathing machine wasn’t functioning properly and I had him a Breathe Rite Strip to enlarge his nasal passage.  He was shocked at the difference he felt and the ease in which he could breathe.

Our human bodies have been designed so intricately that the smallest change in our function can effect so many other facets of how we function and our overall health.  If you have any questions please call me at (586)247-3500 or email me at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years.

As A reminder: The thermostats are being turned up and it is a good idea to have a humidifier in you room where  you sleep since this significantly helps with dry mouth, sore throats, and adds to the efficiency of heating your home.  I was reminded of this at a recent visit to a nursing home and recommended that a humidifier would help increase the comfort of sleeping for the patient.

Filed Under: Dental Emergencies, General Dentistry, Mouth pain, Nutrition, Oral Conditions Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Shelby Dentist: Snoring and the Effects on Others- Causes and Treatment Options

May 2, 2010 by ·

Snoring: Causes and Treatment options to help with this Social Problem

During a recent Boy Scout outing my son Matthew and I went to Muskegon to sleep on the World War II submarine USS Silversides.  This is quite an experience spending the night on such a vessel.   I have such an appreciation for what the men who served in the war did for our country some 65 years ago and the sacrifices they gave.  If you are in the area take some time to explore this great piece of history.

During the night sleeping in a confined setting with others I experienced what many have to deal with every night—SNORING!!!  I had quite a sleepless night sleeping next to a man who snored after every breath.   I gave him my business card and told him that I can help him with a snoring appliance that I will later describe.  It became apparent to me what I needed to write my monthly article on.  There are a few observations I made here that I think snorers need to hear and appreciate.

Those who snore without a stoppage of breathing are usually not affected by their actions.   Even though there is nothing they can consciously do about their actions it remains an obtrusive act to others.   Even with the use of ear plugs the sound can penetrate and keep others awake.

This act of snoring can lead to embarrassment and feeling of hopelessness to those who snore.

Being married to one who snores can have a effect on the marriage because it keeps the other spouse up at night creating resentment and exhaustion for them.  Many partners of snorers decide to sleep in separate rooms, and the resulting lack of bedtime chatting and physical intimacy can lead to a strained relationship. The person who snores often becomes isolated and frustrated about a problem they seemingly have no control over.

Negative Physical Consequences of heavy snoring and sleep apnea:

Deep snoring can lead to a more physically serious problem called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when one stops breathing during one of the snoring cycles.  As one goes into a deeper level of sleep the muscles in the back of the throat get more relaxed and eventually close off the airway.  They will eventually gasp for air after a 10-15 second episode of not breathing because the brain senses a decrease in blood oxygen.  During this oxygen deprivation the body produces a surge of adrenaline deposited into the blood stream which raises blood pressure and gets the heart to pump harder.  The person can develop systemic problems like diabetes, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure and a whole host of other problems from this potentially serious problem.

Causes of snoring out of our control:

  • Heredity – A narrow throat, a cleft palate, enlarged adenoids and other physical attributes which contribute to snoring can be hereditary.
  • Being middle-aged or beyond – As you age, your throat becomes narrower, and the muscle tone in your throat decreases.
  • Being male - Men have narrower air passages than women and are more likely to snore.
  • Allergies, asthma, a cold, or sinus infections – Blocked airways make inhalation difficult and create a vacuum in the throat, leading to snoring.

Remedies:

  • Lose weight – Losing weight is often a very effective cure for mild to moderate snoring. Even a little bit of weight loss can reduce fatty tissue in the back of the throat and decrease snoring.
  • Sleep on your side – If you sleep on your back and snore mildly, sleeping on your side might cure your snoring altogether.
  • Elevate your head – Try elevating the head of your bed four inches, which may make breathing easier and encourage your tongue and jaw to move forward. Sleep without a pillow (or with a specially designed pillow) to make sure your neck muscles are not crimped.
  • Avoid certain foods, alcohol and medications before bed – Alcohol and certain medications increase relaxation of throat and tongue muscles, which makes snoring more likely. Sleeping pills or tranquilizers may help you sleep, but they will also relax your muscles and increase the chance of snoring. High-fat milk products or soy milk products cause mucus to build up in the throat which can lead to snoring as well.
  • Clear your nasal passages – Having a stuffy nose makes inhalation difficult and creates a vacuum in your throat, which in turn leads to snoring. Nasal decongestants or nasal strips may help you breathe more easily while sleeping. Antihistamines can help with allergies, but will relax throat muscles and cause snoring.

If these remedies don’t  help then you could be a candidate for an acrylic oral appliance that we make which keeps the lower jaw pushed forward and thereby opening the soft palate and keeping the tongue in a more forward position.  This is an effective approach to snoring cessation and will also help with those relationships that have been effected by this condition.

Dr. Antolak practices comprehensive, implant and cosmetic dentistry in Shelby Township, Michigan.  To contact the office call (586)247-3500 or email at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com.

About The Author

Dr. Robert Antolak, DDS graduated from the University of Michigan in 1987 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He is dedicated to providing the highest quality and appropriate cosmetic, sedation and general dentistry in the most comfortable and gentle way possible. Because being a dentist has been a lifelong dream, Dr. Antolak has a passion for the profession. He enjoys helping people feel better about their smiles and therefore their self-image with dental implant and cosmetic dentistry. His Dental Practice is located in Shelby Township, Michigan.  For more information visit The Gentle Dentist.

Filed Under: Health Implications, How to choose a dentist, Oral Conditions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sleep apnea-the silent (not so silent) killer

January 15, 2010 by ·

Sleep apnea is a diagnosis that have a direct affect on one’s total health. Between 50-70 million Americans have some form of chronic sleep disorders, including snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) but only 15% know about it. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness alone costs $150 billion annually in lost productivity and mishaps from a lack of nightly sleep. Another $48 billion in medical costs related to motor vehicle accidents that involve drowsy drivers. Almost 20% of all serious car crash injuries are associated with driver Excessive Daytime Sleepiness.

Things to look out for in regards to sleep apnea are:

Obesity, neck larger than 17″ for males and 15″ for females, small lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw, and the older you are the higher the risk. The tissues in the pharynx area of the throat get loose and excessive so it leads to airway closure during sleep.

This problem with the stoppage of breathing occurs when the throat area closes down when excessive tissues encroaches upon the airway space. If the breathing is stopped for more than 10 seconds period of time it is called an episode. Sleep apnea is quantified:

  • Mild-5-15 episodes per hour
  • Moderate:16-30
  • Severe: greater than 30 per hour.

The more episodes one has correlates to more severe problems. You can often hear one who is snoring heavily and then will gasp and find it is silent. They will then make a big gasp to try to catch their breath.

Every time they gasp this wakes them up from a deeper level of sleep. Without the deep levels of sleep the body can’t get refreshed therefore sleep deprivation takes place. It is as if someone wakes you up every other minute!

The body has to arouse itself by using epinephrine which then speeds up the heart, places pressure on the lungs and completely stresses the body. These stresses affect the systemic organs of the body leading to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

The gold standard is to use a cPAP positive pressure mask which blows air down the trachea to force air into the lungs. Many people are not compliant with this device and desire something more comfortable. This is where we come in. It is possible to us an oral appliance called an orthotic to move the lower jaw forward. This opens up the airway to allow more passive non restricted air flow into the lungs. Many people can’t get used to a mask on their face and choose to be more comfortable with this type of device.

If you do wear a cPaP and aren’t happy with it give us a call to discuss the options. Our phone number is (586)247-3500.

Dr. Antolak Performs dentistry in a very comfortable atmosphere where you are treated like family. The Gentle Dentist is located in Shelby Township, Michigan and provides dental services to patients in Macomb County and Oakland County, Michigan

Filed Under: General Dentistry, Headache treatment, Oral Conditions, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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