What is a mouth breather? A mouth breather is someone who habitually inhales and exhales through the mouth rather than through the nose. Some common signs of being a mouth breather include: Dry Lips. Crowded teeth. Snoring and open mouth while you sleep. Narrow high vaulted palate. Increased number of airway infections including sinus, ear or a cold. What causes someone to become a mouth breather? There are many reasons why people breathe only through their mouth including: Allergic Rhinitis - the inflammation and swelling of airways caused by allergens. The most common allergens include dust mites, animal hair, grasses and pollen. Deviated septum - the bone and cartilage between both sides
Some people have anxiety about seeing a dentist due to bad experiences when they were young. In turn, they avoid the dentist until a serious problem occurs. How many people experience dental phobias? Dental phobia affects about 5% of the Australian population. That equals to around 1.15 million Australians. People with dental phobias generally avoid coming to see the dentist, and therefore their oral health is not as good. There are a number of reasons why people are afraid of the dentist, and in turn avoid them including: Being embarrassed about the state of your teeth and oral health. Loud sounds from the drill or suction, that people have equated to pain. Traumatic experience in the past
There is an old wives’ tale of “gain a child, lose a tooth”. Although this is a myth and not true, pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of dental problems in some women, including gum disease and increased risk of tooth decay. During pregnancy, your increased hormones can affect your body’s response to plaque. One in four pregnant women believe dental treatment should be avoided during pregnancy, however this is false. It is important for pregnant women to book an appointment in with the dentist to have an assessment of their oral health. The effects of morning sickness Pregnant women who experience morning sickness with vomiting or acid reflux are at high risk of tooth erosion. To help r
Myth: Sugar causes tooth decay. Truth: Sugar itself does not cause tooth decay. Certain harmful bacteria that is found inside your mouth feed on the sugars that you eat, to create acids that destroy tooth enamel. Tooth decay is a bacterial infection that is caused by these acids. High Sugar Consumption in Australia Australian Dental Association (ADA) figures show that the average Australian consumes more than 2 times the world’s average of 17 teaspoons of sugar every day. Some of the major examples of food that we consume daily that contain high levels of sugar include dried fruit, sweet and savory biscuits, fruit juice, muesli bars, sugary cereals, sweetened yogurt and canned fruit. The num
