Dentistry for Breathing Problems

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

Holistic Approach

Dr Henriette has been awarded the Fellowship Certificate for Buteyko Professionals International.

The Buteyko Institute Method teaches people to correct dysfunctional breathing and thereby normalise their breathing pattern. This results in immediate improvement in asthma, sleep apnoea, snoring, emphysema, COAD, COPD, sinusitis, hay fever, rhinitis, blocked nose, allergies, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, panic and anxiety conditions, and many other respiratory problems.

Following the correction of dysfunctional breathing, people report the following:

  • Reduction in asthma symptoms & in the need for reliever medication
  • Unblocking of the nose and sinuses
  • Restoration of nasal breathing
  • Reduction or elimination of snoring and apnoea
  • Reduction in mucus production and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis
  • Change in tongue position and occlusion
  • Stability to orthodontic work
  • Decrease in size of tonsils adenoids and polyps
  • Increased energy levels
  • Enhanced capacity for exercise and improved recovery rate

Call Integrated Dental Canberra today to book an appointment by calling us on (02) 6249 8551