I have NEVER been able to breathe properly with my mouth closed. It’s actually something I have to concentrate on.
As for while I’m sleeping - forget it - I just cannot breathe if my mouth is closed while I’m lying down.
As a result, I often have a dry mouth, snore, etc … it sucks!
Is there a medical term (besides the dreaded “mouth breather”) and explanation for this? Is there a procedure that can be done to correct it somehow?
Thanks,
S.
I don’t want to scare you, but you should see a doctor about this. It may be related to sleep apnea, which is NOT benign and NOT something you want to put off investigating.
Even if you don’t have sleep problems now (or don’t know you do), that kind of blockage can post a serious danger as you age.
Thanks, watsondog, but I’m not talking about sleep apnea.
(I actually know quite a bit about that subject, as I used to work for a company that sold CPAPs which are used to treat sleep apnea).
I mean that there must be something in my respiratory system that prevents me from breathing through my nose. I’ve had this my whole life … and I’m curious about it - what causes it, if it’s something I can train myself to get past, or if there is a medical treatment / procedure that will correct it.
I had that problem in my youth because of inflamed adenoids. It couldn’t hurt to see a doctor about this.
Are you saying you’re not able to breathe through your nose, or just that you never remember to breathe through your nose?
I wasn’t able to breath through my nose because of a deviated nasal septum, and several sinus polyps. I had surgery, and it fixed me right up.
My brother had the same problem which we always attributed to allergies. Turned out he had a deviated septum and enlarged throat tissues. He developed sleep apnea as an adult and started having blackouts during the day because of lack of sleep.
Please go to a doctor.
The Cody has pretty nasty allergies, so he’s always snotty. Doesn’t even notice it anymore, since he’s always congested. But he can’t breathe through his nose. Once, his head cleared up, and it burned his nose to breathe through it.
Have allergies?
“Mouth Closed = Can’t Breathe - Why?”
((refrains from lashing out with sarcastic tongue, glad others so far have done the same…only a little because I wanted to be the first to do it))
Must be all the time I spend reading in the pit!
“That which does not kill me makes me stranger.” - CalMeacham
Thanks all … I was wondering if it was something to do with my septum … or maybe adenoids …
My doctor is pretty lame (as in health care in my province, so it’ll be tough to find a new one) but it sounds like it’s something worth checking out.
Enright3 - I can sometimes breathe through my nose if I make a conscious effort to do so, but I can usually only do it for a minute or so before I have to find some reason to open my mouth (laugh, smile, say something … whatever!) and get a “real”, complete breath. I’ve always found it completely impossible to do when I’m lying down.
S.
sounds like you have some sort of permanent nasal blockage either deveated septum or nasal polyups. ask you doctor for a referance to an ear nose throat doctor and get x-rays. their is surgery to help.
now for something competely diffrent.
it took me 10 min to write that i amso drunk sorry for any incomprehensibilty.
egtaw1
Hi Stainz,
Try this - push the point of your nose straight up with your finger, so that your nostrils are more visible from the front, and your nose looks a little like a pig’s nose. Can you breathe through your nose more easily?
I have the same “problem” (I’m not convinced that it is a problem) as you, and I find this allows me to breathe very freely through my nose. I only do it every now and then, mainly on public transport.
My understanding is that pushing the nose up straightens the nasal passage (and maybe aligns the septum), allowing the free flow of air.
Stainz, I had the same problem until I had my tonsils and adenoids removed. Made trips to the dentist a heck of lot easier, let me tell you.
I was going to employ occoms razor* and ask if you did in fact have a nose but then in a later post I did see that you do indeed discuss having one. Sorry I couldn’t help.
*Is that one C or two?..Why is it spelled with two Cs when one would do?
Search Webmd or the like under “sinuses” or “adenoids.”
e.g.
(relatively low brow, I know)
Could be that you never “learned” to breathe properly though the ole ski jump or you have an obstruction of some sort (septum, adenoids, polyps, etc.) Do a little research, see your doc, and ask him/her plenty of questions. Stick up for yourself. You, and not necessarily your doctor, know your body best.
Don’t you hate the term “mouth breather” - sounds like something from star trek! I’m the same - often wondered about it and never met anyone who had same problem - I’ve asked and been looked at like I had two heads!
Makes dentists appointments nasty! Also high gag reflex…I’ll be watching to see if someone comes up with something - had my tonsils out when I was a kid so that’s not it.
Yes.
For the OP:
Do not try to fight it. It is the wave of the future.
COME, JOIN YOUR LEADER! 
Wow, I didn’t know others had the same issue I do.
I breathe 99% of the time through my mouth. I can’t take in enough air through my nose without trying VERY hard (and taking an abnormal amount of time to do it).
I’m not even always congested. I just don’t breathe through my nose because it’s harder than through my mouth. I also tend to make some noise through my nose (not like a wheeze…just the some sort of wind noise?).
I have no trouble sleeping (never had) even with the worst congestion. I do snore a little (verified by my GF).
I haven’t see a doctor in over 10 years…maybe I should start eh?
I’ll be sure to post the outcome once I’m able to get my doctor to listen to me!!! Thanks for all the advice …
S.
Same problem. I always thought that “breathe in through your nose” thing was some weird inside joke that I just wasn’t getting. How could you really breathe IN through your nose. I mean come ON. And out was obviously for the mouth.
Then I saw an ENT surgeon for another reason. He asked if i could breate through my nose. I said no. He asked if I would like to. I asked if that were possible. He said that it was indeed possible, and since I was having surgery for a thing on my neck anyway, now would be a fine time. So I did.
And now I breathe, both in and out, through my nose. Unless I forget, or have a cold.