There's problems with mouth breathers

[Richard D]

Mouth Breathing Can Cause Major Health Problems

ScienceDaily (Apr. 6, 2010) — For some, the phrase "spring is in the air" is quite literal. When the winter snow melts and flowers bloom, pollen and other materials can wreak havoc on those suffering from seasonal allergies, usually causing a habit called "mouth breathing." The physical, medical and social problems associated with mouth breathing are not recognized by most health care professionals, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Dentists typically request that their patients return every six months, which means that some people see their dentist more frequently than they see their physician. As a result, dentists may be the first to identify the symptoms of mouth breathing. And, because dentists understand the problems associated with mouth breathing, they can help prevent the adverse effects.

"Allergies can cause upper airway obstruction, or mouth breathing, in patients," said Yosh Jefferson, DMD, author of the study. "Almost every family has someone with mouth breathing problems."

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. The poor sleeping habits that result from mouth breathing can adversely affect growth and academic performance. As Dr. Jefferson notes in his article, "Many of these children are misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity." 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.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100406125714.htm

[Warpy]

1. Tis the season

to clean out the filter on my bedroom air cleaner. I used it last night and slept well for the first time in a couple of weeks.

It's amazing what a cheap fan running air through a mechanical filter will do.

[damntexdem]

2. That's me in spades.

Always have been. Had tonsils removed as a child. Had adenoids removed a few years back, as well as new holes drilled into the sinus cavities. Still very much a mouth breather.

[Captain Hilts]

3. There 'are' problems with mouth breathers.

FDR had horrible sinus/allergy problems and breathed through his mouth much of the time. Being in DC was a nightmare for him. He was also susceptible to colds.

[sui generis]

4. I am a part time mouth breathing mofo right now to keep snot

from randomly sprinting out and winking at my visitors. Seriously Dallas is effed up for allergens and I used to consider myself impervious. Today is a banner booger day.

I really have seen mouth breathing bairns who just don't look quite right in the head. I believe real mouth breathing and inbreeding may also be related like chickens and eggs. Maybe something to do with chronic anoxia?

[FiveGoodMen]

5. But don't let us have Sudafed! Gotta show everyone how much we hate meth.

Even though the only people we've really harmed are the ones with breathing problems.

Gotta love America! (I think it's a law...)

[EvolveOrConvolve]

6. I think air-borne allergens have gotten worse over the last 20 years

Where I live, the heavy allergy season was 8 weeks long, sometimes more if the weather was doing abnormally weird things. Now, the allergy season is 9+ months, and it wreaks havoc with my allergies. I'm not yet a full mouth-breather, but I'm getting there.

Climate change is really fucking us up in ways we don't think of on the surface.

[Peregrine Took]

7. Mouth breathing really ups the anxiety level for me.

I'm hyperventilating before long - then my heart is racing - its all downhill after that. I really have to work on keeping my "trap shut!"