Nasal breathing is regarded in functional medicine as an important factor in the interplay of breathing, jaw development, and sleep. It differs significantly from mouth breathing, which bypasses central functions of the nose, such as filtering, humidifying, and regulating the inhaled air.
In the professional literature, connections between nasal breathing, tongue resting posture, and jaw function are described. Especially in childhood, breathing plays a role in the functional development of the mouth and jaw area.
In adults as well, nasal and mouth breathing are discussed in connection with sleep, snoring, and general functional patterns.
The articles compiled in this topic area explore possible functional connections between nasal breathing, tongue position, and jaw function, as well as typical signs and influencing factors observed in practice.