09/07/2024
Nasal breathing during sleep has numerous benefits, such as maintaining moist airways, utilizing nasal nitric oxide, stabilizing breathing patterns, engaging the diaphragm, and keeping the tongue from obstructing the throat. These factors collectively help alleviate and prevent sleep apnea. Mouth breathing, on the other hand, can trigger and perpetuate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by increasing negative suction pressure and drying out the airways, leading to inflammation and further nasal obstruction.
Nasal nitric oxide plays a crucial role as it acts as a bronchodilator, keeping the lower airways open and reducing upper airway obstruction. This gas is produced in significant quantities in the nose and paranasal sinuses, helping regulate sleep apnea and enhancing communication between the nose, throat muscles, and lungs. Nasal breathing improves lung volume through greater diaphragm activation, which in turn helps keep the throat open and reduces the risk of airway collapse during sleep.
Orthodontic treatments that reduce airway size can negatively impact breathing. Dr. William Hang, a pioneer in airway-focused orthodontics, emphasizes the importance of preserving airway space in treatments. Initiatives like RightToGrow.org and the Prevent Crooked Teeth campaign advocate for maintaining all 32 teeth and promoting good breathing habits to support lifelong health.
A unified airway model recognizes that nasal and lung health are interconnected. Inflammation and pathogens can travel along the respiratory mucosa, meaning lung inflammation can affect the nose and vice versa. This connection is significant for people with asthma, who are more likely to experience nasal congestion, leading to mouth breathing and potentially contributing to sleep-disordered breathing. Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often occur together, and managing one condition can help control the other. Breathing exercises, like those in "The Breathing Cure," have been shown to improve asthma control and may also help reduce OSA symptoms.
