Okeechobee Times

• Breathing through the nose is a common practice in yoga, thanks to its many benefits.

• Physicians also recommend breathing through the nose, as it provides a natural filter.

• Breathing through the mouth can lead to poor oral health and bad breath.  

Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said breathing through the nose has multiple health benefits. Yoga experts agree, aligning with physicians to spread the word that breathing through your nose can provide you with a healthier life.

"People don't understand that we are obligate nose breathers," Aull told Okeechobee Times. "Our body is designed to breathe through the nose. The nose is an organ that is built and formed perfectly. The mouth can also be breathed through, but it is not ideal. Why do I say that? Inside the nose, there are structures that warm and humidify the air so it can be presented to the lungs at the right temperature and the right humidity. It can be filtered. If you are breathing through your mouth, you've just lost all of those benefits. Now you're breathing into your lungs, and things that should have been filtered in the nose air are not warmed and humidified to the amount that they should be."

He also talked about the impact the way you breathe has on your oral health.

"On top of that, now you're going to be drying out your mouth and throat -- irritating your throat, making it more susceptible to infections," Aull said. "To resign yourself to that is unfortunate."

Yoga is an ancient practice, and yogis have studied the role of breathing for centuries, according to UK-based company Heather Yoga. Breathing through the nose, as opposed to the mouth, is strongly preferred in many yoga practices. That's why so many yoga experts and yogis preach the importance of breathing through the nose. 

KTM Yoga reports that, although most people should breathe through their noses most of the time, as many as 60% of adults often breathe through their mouths. Hair and mucus within the nose act as filters that trap bacteria and dust. Nasal breathing also increases oxygen intake and boosts brain activity. Another benefit of breathing through the nose is that it helps to slow airflow, which widens blood vessels and slows the heart rate, leading to a feeling of calm.

People who suffer from allergies or chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, but mouth breathing can lead to oral health issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. Mouth breathing dries up saliva, which then allows bacteria and plaque to build up on the teeth, which can cause cavities, gum disease and chronic bad breath. Regularly breathing through the mouth can also, over time, lead to strained jaw joints, snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils and a higher risk for airway disorders, such as asthma.

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of allergies and sinus infections, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.