Mouth Breather

[BeckysBracedBeautifully]

I've always been a mouth breather and am trying so hard to break the habit. Problem is that i have to bite down in order to remember to keep my mouth shut. If i stay relaxed a little bit, it never fails that i catch my mouth open. My molars are already pointed inward. Is this gonna make them move more inward or is the archwire still gonna pull it out. I know it sounds stupid, so stupid i fear that my ortho is gonna laugh and send me packing if i actually ask him. Metals top and bottom. No expanders.

[snashe]

You can pratice breathing with your mouth relaxed and closed; counsciously and deeply breathing. It will not help you to break your mouth-breathing habit but it may help to be able to nose-breath while being relaxed.

I guess you can ask your ortho whenever he thinks something about your mouth breathing habit. It seems to be your general problem so it seems to be a good way to speak about the problem and he may have some tips for you or may refer to an orthophonist or anything else. Anyway, he should be concerned at least a bit.

excuse my english

[kittenmaisey]

Hi,

I have always been a mouth breather. I believe this is because my jaw is too far back, and has caused me a host of physical problems. stemming from hyperventilating. Nasal breathing feels unnatural to me.

[staceyr2]

I know its been a long time since this topic posted, but I had to reply.
I too am a mouth breather, mine is bad sinus allergies. I actually have to rest my tongue against the roof of my mouth (to keep from grinding my teeth against each other or my brackets) and conciously think about breathing through my nose. I still have problems when I am congested, but over the last 3 1/2 years it has become more second nature, and I don't have to think about doing it as much. I think the braces have helped with my sinus congestion some as well. The tongue thing may not be the best suggestion, but I would have to suggest just keep it in your mind to breathe through your nose and eventually, you will do it more often. My ortho told me that mouth breathing does slow down the process of moving teeth. I have 3 of the slow down factors: Mouth Breather, smoker, and age. Can't change my age, have tried to quit smoking unsuccessfully, so fixing the mouth breathing is my best bet, seems to be a lot better, but still not perfect, and I have little to no control over it while I am sleeping, but I do breathe through my nose a lot more often.

[kittenmaisey]

Suggested reading.. Hypertilation Syndrome. By Dinah Bradley