The importance of breathing is often overlooked. Yet imbalances in the way we breathe, affects body chemistry and blood pH, the first step in all diseases. Ideally, we should breathe through our nose 8-12 times/minute, with our tongue resting on our palate. Our nose is designed to filter, warm and humidify the air we breathe.
Dysfunctional Breathing
Dysfunctional breathing can have a huge impact on your sleep. It therefore affects your general health.
Breathing Well
If we breathe through our mouth, our breathing is dysfunctional. Our upper and lower jaws may not develop to their full potential, the air will not be filtered, our bodies may be more acidic and our posture can also be affected.
We swallow 2000 times/day, ideally with our tongue resting on the roof of our mouth. In this way, our upper jaw may develop to its full potential with enough room for our lower jaw and for all 32 teeth that nature has provided us.
Mouth breathing or dysfunctional breathing affects whole-body health. Other symptoms such as migraine and headaches then may appear. In holistic dentistry, it is important to look at all factors that may cause pain and/or stress symptoms. Sleep is often a major factor that should be taken into account.
Less than 5% of people breathe efficiently. They over breathe through the mouth, rather than slowly through the nose to warm, filter and humidify the air.
Low carbon dioxide levels mean that the haemoglobin in our blood does not release the oxygen throughout the body, which may result in feeling like you have less energy.
Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth is the wrong way to breathe.
Why is it important to breathe well?
Dysfunctional breathing results in a lower carbon dioxide level.
Carbon dioxide is the critical factor in ensuring that oxygen is released by our red blood cells and helps energise every cell in your body.
Incorrect breathing SIGNIFICANTLY lowers carbon dioxide levels and reduces oxygen supply to your cells.
Bigger and deeper breaths actually REDUCE the amount of oxygen that is available – not increase it.
Dysfunctional breathing makes the body more acidic and prone to dental problems
Dysfunctional breathing can result in narrower upper and lower jaws resulting in crowding of teeth.
Incorrect breathing can affect every one of the body’s eleven functional systems and may cause everything from night-time trips to the toilet to crooked teeth and narrow jaws in children.
What is breathing well?
Ideally, we should breathe 8-12 breaths/minute
Breathe through your nose
Use of your diaphragm to fill the lungs (stomach should move out when you breathe in, and in when you breathe out)
Tongue resting on the roof of your mouth
Correct breathing, especially while asleep
The Procedure
The benefits experienced by both adults and children focusing on breathing optimally and undertaking this breathing program may include the following:
Improving quality of sleep
Reduction in snoring
Reducing body acidity
Less anxiety and tension
Reduction in medication for asthma, gastric disorders and hypertension
More energy on waking
More stamina for daytime activities
Natural control of anxiety/panic attacks
Improved memory and recall
Children in particular may benefit by:
Better stability for correcting crooked teeth and narrow upper jaws
Better quality and less disturbed sleep
Elimination of mouth breathing
Fewer ear, nose and throat infections
Improvement in concentration and behaviour
Improved exercise and sports performance
Call Integrated Dental Health today to book an appointment by calling us on(02) 4708 7007.
Make An Enquiry
Special offer for new patients at our Katoomba clinic!
