{"id":315,"date":"2018-07-03T17:39:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T17:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arbordentalcare.com\/blog\/?p=315"},"modified":"2018-07-21T17:43:49","modified_gmt":"2018-07-21T17:43:49","slug":"lisle-dentist-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arbordentalcare.com\/blog\/lisle-dentist-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Mouth Breathers Get More Cavities? A Lisle Dentist Explains"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ManIt goes without saying that none of us can control what we do when we\u2019re sleeping. From grinding our teeth, to snoring, and even sleep-walking, there\u2019s simply no way to change our nighttime behaviors. But that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t counteract the effects of them – and that includes mouth breathing! Many people don\u2019t ask their dentist in Lisle about breathing with their mouth open at night because they assume it\u2019s harmless. But it turns out that there\u2019s one unanticipated consequence: a higher risk of cavities! Learn more about the link between the two in this blog and find out how to keep your smile healthy – in spite of nighttime mouth breathing!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Does Mouth Breathing Increase Your Risk of Cavities?<\/h2>\n

One of the primary causes of cavities is acid. Although enamel is the hardest substance in your body, the acid in your mouth eats away at it and ultimately does permanent damage to your teeth (aka cavities).<\/p>\n

But where does this acid come from? The normal bacteria in everyone\u2019s mouth produce it, especially after meals.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, your body has a natural way of counteracting the effects of acid: saliva. Not only does it wash away plaque, bacteria and food debris, it also reduces the acid in the mouth.<\/p>\n

In a recent study, researchers found that people who breathe through their mouth at night lose these benefits because their mouth becomes dry. Just eight hours each night without the benefits of saliva can lead to more cavities!<\/p>\n

How Can You Counteract These Effects?<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, there are several easy things you can do to reduce your risk of tooth decay:<\/p>\n