Every morning it’s the same story: you wake up with an extremely dry throat and a pillow full of drool… No doubt about it, you’ve been sleeping with your mouth open!
However, this habit of breathing through your mouth while you sleep is not harmless! This posture may even have implications for our health. Do you tend to sleep with your mouth open, but don’t know why? Find out in this article!
« People may sleep with their mouths open because it’s a habit, but breathing through the mouth at night can also be a sign that something is interfering with normal breathing, especially if it’s accompanied by snoring. » explains Sleep Foundation.
Nasal obstruction
Nasal congestion or blockage is a common cause of mouth breathing! It can be temporary, due to a cold, or chronic, due to asthma or allergies.
Indeed, when the nasal passages are blocked, breathing through the mouth often becomes unavoidable during sleep.
Good to know : Some people naturally have partially blocked nasal passages. Breathing through the mouth during sleep is then unavoidable.
Drink a glass of water before bedtime
Having a nightcap before going to bed can also lead to a relaxation of the respiratory muscles. This increases the risk of mouth opening and upper airway collapse during sleep.
Sleep-disordered breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing, such assleep apnea or snoring, can be the cause of mouth-breathing!
For example, people with sleep apnea have recurrent pauses in breathing during sleep, forcing them to breathe through the mouth to compensate for difficulty breathing through the nose.
Taking medication
And yes! In some cases, drug treatments can also cause nasal congestion, leading to open-mouthed breathing!
These include blood pressure medication, antidepressants and anti-inflammatories.
Sleeping on your back
To avoid sleeping with your mouth open, choose a position other than your back. Sleeping on the back causes the tongue and palate to relax, narrowing the airways and causing mouth breathing.
Good to know: Open-mouth breathing can lead to serious oral health problems(periodontitis, tooth decay, bad breath), as well as health problems (cardiovascular disease, diabetes…).
Do you find that you often sleep with your mouth open? Talk to your GP!