Overview
- ENT and sleep-medicine specialists say habitual mouth breathing bypasses nasal filtration and is linked to snoring, fragmented sleep, oral disease, infections, and fatigue.
- In children, clinicians warn chronic mouth breathing can alter jaw and facial growth and contribute to crooked teeth and a long-face pattern.
- Nasal breathing supports nitric oxide release and diaphragmatic breathing, aiding oxygen uptake, airway stability, and deeper sleep.
- A review of 10 studies from 1999–2024 with 213 participants found mouth taping showed at most modest, not clinically significant effects for mild sleep apnea and no clear benefit for mouth breathing.
- Doctors recommend evaluation for persistent symptoms and suggest noninvasive steps such as diaphragmatic practice, improved sleep posture, and supportive pillows to encourage nasal breathing.