Mouth breathing is often brushed off as a minor habit, but it can have a significant impact on airway health, immune function, and even vocal performance.
Why It Starts in Childhood
When children breathe through their mouths instead of their noses, it can:
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Narrow the airway over time
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Alter jaw and palate development (leading to high, narrow palates and crowded teeth)
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Reduce exposure to filtered, humidified air, which supports early immune system function
These early adaptations can set the stage for airway challenges, sleep-disordered breathing, and heightened allergic responses later in life.
Why It Matters at Any Age
For adults, mouth breathing can:
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Bypass the nose’s natural filtration and humidification, exposing the lower airways to more irritants
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Increase airway dryness, inflammation, and sensitivity
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Reduce nitric oxide production, which helps support airway dilation and local immune defense
Beyond Breathing – It Affects the Whole System
When nasal breathing is compromised, the body can stay in a state of heightened tension, affecting:
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Vocal efficiency
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Pressure management
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Overall body coordination
The Good News? Breath is Trainable.
Restoring nasal breathing can improve:
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Allergy resilience
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Airway health
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Vocal performance
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Overall vitality
Why I Started Mouth Taping
A few months ago, I decided to try mouth taping at night—a practice I had heard about for years but always found a bit intimidating. With the right tape, like SomniFix, which my friend Mackenzie recommended, it felt much less daunting. Now, I love it. It helps me maintain nasal breathing through the night, improving my sleep, recovery, and overall airway health.
Note: Mouth taping isn’t for everyone. If you have severe nasal congestion, obstructive sleep apnea, or other respiratory issues, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before trying this technique.
Next Steps
Awareness is the first step. Training is the next. If you’re interested in learning more about how breathing impacts the voice and whole-body function, stay tuned for my upcoming workshops and online classes.
Stay well,
Christine
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