Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz, CA
Did you know that the way you breathe could affect your waistline? Many of us breathe through our mouths when our nose is stuffy due to allergies or the occasional cold. However, having a perpetually stuffy nose, which means you are breathing through your mouth all of the time could increase your likelihood of being overweight or even obese.
Why does this occur?
It all comes down to the way you breathe. The medical consensus is that the preferred method of breathing is to take shallow nasal breaths with the mouth closed. Your body enjoys a host of benefits by breathing in this manner. Your body absorbs a higher quantity of oxygen through this method, which also encourages lower blood pressure, a balanced heart rate, and better breath.
However, a significant portion of the population breathes frequently through their mouth. This can have a host of different negative consequences on both oral health and overall health. The body endures more stress because of this poorer method of breathing, and you are more susceptible to bouts of inflammation, which can hinder proper digestion. Also, a less efficient amount of oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream as a result of the lack of nitric oxide, which is produced at a much higher rate by taking shallow breaths through the nose. People who breathe through the mouth also may experience greater cravings for sugary, fatty, starchy foods—all of which can lead to weight gain.
Breathing through the mouth also can affect the way you sleep. This can result in a lack of energy throughout the day, making it harder for you to burn the calories you consume. Not to mention, there are many oral concerns that stem from chronic mouth breathing.
At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we can help you learn to breathe in the best way for your health through myofunctional therapy. This therapy consists of a series of simple exercises of the orofacial muscles, as well as the tongue. One of the main objectives of myofunctional therapy is to achieve ideal oral resting posture—with lips together, teeth together, and the tongue resting gently against the upper palate. This oral resting posture encourages the more beneficial breathing through the nose, and consequently, can lower your risk of an expanding waistline.
Myofunctional therapy can only be prescribed by a certified myofunctional therapist such as the one on staff at your Scotts Valley dental office – Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry. Our therapist works closely with each patient, selecting exercises that best fit his or her need. Throughout your therapy, you will return to our office so that we can gauge your progress and determine if other treatments are necessary to correct your breathing issue.
Myofunctional Therapy in Scotts Valley
Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry is proud to have an experienced and well-trained myofunctional therapist on staff. To learn more about this therapy and its benefits, contact our office in Scotts Valley at (831) 438-4411.
Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry provides total oral health care for patients located in the California communities of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley.
