Study: Mouth Breathing While Asleep May Lead To Tooth Decay
- 8 years ago
New research from the University of Otago appears to have found a link between mouth breathing while asleep and enamel erosion and tooth decay.
Breathing through the mouth while sleeping has been linked to higher amounts of acid in the oral environment, which in turn may lead to enamel erosion and tooth decay, according to research from the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Data for the study was gathered from volunteers who alternated between sleeping regularly and with a nose clip that forced them to breathe through their mouths.
According to a press release issued by the university, the research showed that "the average pH during sleep with forced mouth breathing was a mildly acidic 6.6 compared to a neutral 7 when nose bre
Breathing through the mouth while sleeping has been linked to higher amounts of acid in the oral environment, which in turn may lead to enamel erosion and tooth decay, according to research from the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Data for the study was gathered from volunteers who alternated between sleeping regularly and with a nose clip that forced them to breathe through their mouths.
According to a press release issued by the university, the research showed that "the average pH during sleep with forced mouth breathing was a mildly acidic 6.6 compared to a neutral 7 when nose bre