17/06/2025
Sleeping with the mouth open significantly increases the risk of dental caries due to continuous oral dryness caused by evaporative water loss. Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health by neutralizing acids, washing away food particles, remineralizing enamel, and maintaining a stable pH.
However, during open-mouth breathing, especially at night, saliva flow reduces drastically, leading to xerostomia (dry mouth), which in turn creates an acidic oral environment favorable for cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. These bacteria metabolize residual sugars and produce lactic acid, initiating the demineralization of enamel.
The absence of a protective salivary film disrupts the natural cleansing mechanism and compromises the buffering capacity, leaving enamel surfaces exposed to acid attacks for prolonged periods. Research has shown that patients who mouth breathe while sleeping often exhibit lower salivary pH values, sometimes dropping below critical thresholds (pH < 5.5), accelerating enamel erosion and lesion formation. Additionally, mouth breathing is frequently associated with snoring, sleep apnea, nasal obstructions, and habitual behaviors, which may exacerbate the condition and go undiagnosed.
Clinical signs often include early white spot lesions on cervical areas, interproximal decay, halitosis, increased plaque retention, and a burning sensation in the mucosa.
Unaddressed mouth breathing is not just a breathing pattern but a chronic risk factor for progressive dental disease that demands both medical & dental attention
