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In This Issue Trisha O’Hehir, RDH, MS Editorial Director, Hygienetown

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Unblocking the Nose

by Trisha O’Hehir, RDH, MS Editorial Director, Hygienetown

The first step in switching from mouth breathing to nose breathing is making sure the nose is clear. Many mouth breathers experience nasal congestion and even blame their mouth breathing on this congestion. Strange as it might seem, mouth breathing causes nasal congestion. It’s a vicious cycle – the more one mouth breathes, the more congested the person is and therefore the more he or she breathes through the mouth. Mouth breathers are also overbreathing, leading to lower carbon dioxide levels. The brain responds to low carbon dioxide levels by producing more mucous in the nasal passages, making nose breathing difficult. Therefore the mouth breathing continues.

Since reduced carbon dioxide levels cause the nose to block, unblocking the nose can be done by increasing the carbon dioxide levels in the body to reverse the process. Slowing down the breathing will elevate the carbon dioxide levels. A simple six-step exercise outlined in the book Close Your Mouth by Buteyko Breathing instructor Patrick McKeown will unblock the nose.

The steps are as follows:
  1. Sit up straight.

  2. Take a small breath in through your nose, if possible, and a small breath out. If your nose is quite blocked, take a tiny breath in through the corner of your mouth.

  3. Pinch your nose with your fingers and hold your breath. Keep your mouth closed.

  4. Gently nod your head or sway your body until you feel that you cannot hold your breath any longer. (Hold your nose until you feel a strong desire to breathe.)

  5. When you need to breathe in, let go of your nose and breathe gently through it, in and out, with your mouth closed.

  6. Calm your breathing as soon as possible.
This exercise can be repeated several times until the nose is unblocked. Wait 30 seconds before repeating the exercise. With the nose unblocked, nasal breathing is possible and the switch can be made from mouth breathing to nose breathing.
Inside This Section
116      Perio Reports
120      Profile in Oral Health: Mouth Vs. Nasal Breathing
124      Product Profile: Prophies, Parafunction and Your Patients
126      Message Board: Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disordered Breathing Cause More than Hypoxemia
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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