Mouth Breathing, Airway, Sleep, Oral Health, Nose Breathing, Microbiome, Nitric Oxide Susan Morrison Mouth Breathing, Airway, Sleep, Oral Health, Nose Breathing, Microbiome, Nitric Oxide Susan Morrison

CW Vol 2 Ed. 36 - The Airway–Sleep Connection

The quality of your sleep isn’t just about how many hours you get — it’s about how well you breathe during those hours.

Dr. Mark Burhenne shares that airway health, especially at night, is a make-or-break factor for deep, restorative sleep. And the surprising culprit behind poor nighttime breathing? Mouth breathing.

Why Nighttime Breathing Matters

Sleep apnea and snoring disrupt deep sleep and can raise blood pressure.

  • Mouth breathing dries the airway, making it more likely to collapse.

  • Poor nighttime breathing can trigger morning headaches, fatigue, and brain fog.

  • Even mild sleep-disordered breathing increases cardiovascular and metabolic risks.

“If you stop breathing (even slightly) during sleep, your body wakes up multiple times per hour—even if you don’t remember it.” Mark Burhenne, Ask the Dentist

How Mouth Taping Fits In

  • Not a gimmick – A simple tool to encourage nasal breathing at night.

  • As a test: If you can sleep comfortably with your mouth taped, your nasal airway is likely working well.

  • As therapy: Keeps the mouth closed, maintains airway moisture, and reduces snoring.

  • Important caution: Only tape if you can breathe comfortably through your nose. Use safe, purpose-made mouth tape (never duct tape or improvised substitutes).

  • Nexcare is the mouth tape recommended by Dr. Burhenne.

“If you have cavities or gum disease, you should be mouth taping… everyone should be mouth taping — if they can breathe through their nose.” —Dr. Mark Burhenne, Ask the Dentist

Quick Tip: Self-Check for Nighttime Mouth Breathing

  • Do you wake up with a dry mouth?

  • Has your bed partner noticed snoring or an open mouth during sleep? Or do you feel fatigued in the morning even after “enough” hours in bed?

  • Do you have frequent cavities with no other explanation or a chronically dry mouth - which indicates mouth breathing.

  • Do you have gum recession or gun disease?

  • Do you have signs of bruxism, such as flattened teeth from grinding?

If yes to any, it’s worth exploring your nighttime breathing habits!

Dr. Mark Burhenne recommends these next steps:

  • Find an airway-trained dentist: AADSM.org or the Functional Dentist Directory on his website: askthedentist.com/directory.

  • Sleep Apps & Wearables: Smartwatch apps and trackers that log patterns like snoring, sleep stages, and movement. Not diagnostic on their own, but useful for spotting trends.

  • Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) a portable device prescribed by your doctor to measure breathing, oxygen, and sleep quality from your own bed.

Learn More

Read more on a Home Sleep Study: What to Expect & Alternatives by clicking here.

Sign up to receive Dr. Burhenne’s weekly newsletter here.

Listen to the insightful conversation between Patrick McKeown and Dr. Mark Berhenne here.

Or watch on YouTube here.

Follow Dr. Mark Berhenne on IG @askthedentist or click here.

View this newsletter here.

9/3/2025

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