Did you know how you breathe can shape your oral health, facial growth, and even your sleep quality? As dental and myofunctional professionals, we see every day how something as simple as mouth breathing can lead to big changes in the way the face and jaw develop — especially in children. Understanding the difference between nose breathing and mouth breathing is one of the most important steps toward achieving better oral function, posture, and long-term health. Why Nose Breathing Is So Important From a myofunctional therapy standpoint, nasal breathing is ideal for both function and development. Here’s why: 1. It supports proper tongue posture. When you breathe through your nose, the tongue naturally rests against the roof of the mouth. This helps shape the upper jaw, maintain a wide dental arch, and promote a balanced facial structure. 2. It maintains a healthy oral environment. Nose breathing keeps the mouth closed and moist. This supports saliva flow, which helps prevent cavities, gum inflammation, and bad breath. 3. It encourages better sleep and airway function. Nasal breathing allows for efficient oxygen exchange and reduces snoring or nighttime airway collapse, improving both sleep quality and energy levels. 4. It guides healthy facial growth in children. For kids, consistent nasal breathing helps the jaws grow properly and teeth align naturally — reducing the need for extensive orthodontic treatment later. How Mouth Breathing Affects Oral Function When the mouth stays open for breathing, the entire oral system adapts to that posture — often in ways that create long-term problems: Low tongue posture: The tongue drops to the floor of the mouth, leading to narrow arches and crowded teeth. Dry mouth and higher cavity risk: Saliva flow decreases, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive. Changes in facial growth: Chronic mouth breathing can cause a longer face, narrow jaw, and weaker chin profile. Open mouth posture and poor lip seal: These habits can impact speech, swallowing, and appearance. Sleep-disordered breathing: Mouth breathing at night is often linked to snoring or mild sleep apnea. Why Mouth Breathing Happens There are several reasons people develop a mouth-breathing habit, such as: Nasal congestion or chronic allergies Enlarged tonsils or adenoids Structural nasal issues (like a deviated septum) Habitual open-mouth posture developed early in life Often, these issues start in childhood — and without correction, they can persist into adulthood. How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a series of exercises and techniques that retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face to work the way they’re meant to. Through myofunctional therapy, we focus on: Establishing nasal breathing as the default pattern Training proper tongue posture (on the palate) Developing a closed-lip resting position Coordinating correct swallowing and oral muscle function These changes don’t just improve breathing — they enhance oral health, support orthodontic treatment, and even improve facial balance and appearance. Breathe Better, Live Better If you or your child habitually breathe through the mouth, it’s not just a breathing issue — it’s a functional issue that can affect long-term health and development. At Speedvale Dental Centre, our team is trained in myofunctional therapy and airway-focused dentistry. We can help identify the root cause of mouth breathing and create a customized plan to restore proper oral function and healthy breathing patterns. Ready to take the first step toward better breathing and better health? Schedule a consultation today to learn how myofunctional therapy can help you or your child achieve optimal oral function — one breath at a time.

If you are concerned about your overall health and that of your family, and you believe that natural products and services are vital to one’s health, then full body health dentistry just may be the right option for you. Full body health dentistry, sometimes called biological, biocompatible, natural or integrative dentistry is certainly not a new approach to dental care. Nearly forty years ago (in 1978), the Holistic Dental Association was formed by a group of concerned, dedicated dentists interested in the development and sharing of long established and health-promoting treatment options. These were modes of dental treatment not included in western dental schools’ curriculums. These founding member dentists believed that most dental problems could be corrected and improved all while working in harmony with the body as a whole. Full body health dentistry recognizes the important connection between the health of the mouth and that of the entire body (as established by traditional medical research studies). This natural, comprehensive approach concentrates on the whole body health of the patient and not just the condition of the teeth and gums. The full body health dentist, when caring for a diabetic patient for example, will help that patient understand the best practices for home and dental office oral hygiene care and how, by following a healthy diet and exercise program, he or she can manage blood sugar levels best. The full body health dentist may work in tandem with other like-minded health professionals such as Naturopaths, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, and Osteopaths in an integrative approach to ensure the highest level and most sustainable results. While dentists everywhere focus on dental health and the treatment of oral disease, not all dentists also focus on their patients’ whole body or general health. And, as more and more people seek out more natural health care options, full body health dentistry presents itself as a healthy comprehensive health care alternative with the perfect blend of modern dentistry and natural healing methods.