In many disciplines—sports training, meditation, and practices aimed at psychophysical well-being—breathing techniques play a fundamental role. This is no coincidence.
In ancient traditions such as Qi Gong (Chinese) and Pranayama (Indian), proper breathing was considered an essential prerequisite for physical and spiritual development. Unfortunately, modern lifestyle and environmental factors have made oral breathing an increasingly common habit.
Stress, anxiety, or worry often induce shorter, shallow breaths, typically through the mouth. Even temporary nasal obstructions, such as a prolonged cold, may trigger the easier but dysfunctional oral breathing pattern.
Correct nasal breathing is more demanding—it requires greater muscular effort and adaptation. As a result, oral breathing often becomes habitual, even after nasal patency has been restored.
The most common causes of oral breathing include:
- Previous rhinoplasty
- Lack of training in nasal breathing
- Frequent colds
- Rhinitis and sinusitis
- Allergies
- Enlarged adenoids
- Turbinate hypertrophy
- Deviated septum
- Stress and anxiety
- Nasal polyps
- Dysfunctional nasal shapes
- Iatrogenic increased nasal resistance
- Less common structural causes
Oral breathing should be used only occasionally, in situations of temporary obstruction such as colds or allergies. However, because it requires less effort, it often becomes a persistent habit.
Recent statistics suggest that around 50% of children and nearly 80% of the general population show signs of dysfunctional breathing.
An important question arises: to what extent are recurrent respiratory conditions the consequence rather than the cause of incorrect breathing patterns?
Lower respiratory tract infections—such as pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and influenza—remain among the leading causes of illness and mortality worldwide in both children and adults. Their social impact is greatly underestimated.
In my view, the main cause of oral breathing is the near-total absence of education in proper nasal breathing from childhood onward.
Vuoi che traduca subito anche il 12. Oral Breathing Is Harmful per continuare il discorso, così rimangono collegati?
Oral Breathing Is Harmful
Many health problems—both in children and adults—could be avoided simply by restoring correct nasal breathing.
Surprisingly, many individuals with normal nasal patency still breathe predominantly through the mouth, often unconsciously. Yet oral breathing has significant negative consequences, some of which can be serious.
In children, oral breathing is associated with:
- Frequent colds, halitosis, and dry mouth
- Otitis, tonsillitis, and adenoiditis
- Bronchitis and pneumonia (due to aspiration of bacteria and viruses from the oral cavity)
- Allergies and asthma
- Food intolerances
- Snoring and sleep-disordered breathing
- Impaired concentration and learning difficulties
- Weakened immune system
- Gastric reflux
- Nocturnal enuresis
Persistent oral breathing in childhood also slows overall growth and compromises craniofacial development, leading to:
- Malocclusions
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- Dental crowding
- “Gummy smile”
- Mandibular hypoplasia
- Long-face syndrome
- Dark, accentuated under-eye circles
- Postural imbalances and chronic fatigue
In adults, additional complications may arise, including:
- Hypertension
- Arrhythmias
- Sleep apnea
- Neurological issues
- General malaise due to reduced oxygenation and poor clearance of toxins
Physiologically, oral breathing causes excess loss of carbon dioxide (CO₂). While atmospheric CO₂ concentration is only 0.03%, in the human body it is around 6%. Excessive exhalation depletes this essential gas, which plays critical roles in:
- Regulating respiration: Low CO₂ (hypocapnia) increases respiratory rate, while high CO₂ (hypercapnia) slows it.
- Oxygen release (Bohr effect): Adequate CO₂ is required for hemoglobin to release oxygen into tissues. In oral breathing, reduced CO₂ levels mean oxygen-loaded hemoglobin cannot release O₂ effectively, leading to tissue hypoxia.
- Mucus regulation: Low CO₂ increases mucus secretion, narrowing airways further.
- Mineral balance: Chronic CO₂ loss alters blood pH, prompting kidneys to excrete bicarbonate and leading to magnesium and calcium depletion.
- Antibacterial action: CO₂ strongly inhibits bacterial growth; staphylococci, for example, proliferate 1,000 times more in normal air than in CO₂-rich environments.
Moreover, oral breathing increases dehydration. Compared to nasal breathing, it causes 42% more water loss from the body.
In summary, oral breathing is not a minor habit—it is a pathological condition with profound systemic and developmental consequences. Correcting it should be a priority in preventive medicine.
