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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
I promise, this is last follow up
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
I promise, this is last follow up
by mymomissick, Jul 13, 2004 12:00AM
1) Is mouth breathing a bad thing to do, regardless of weight?
2) Can one be obese, be a mouth breather, have dry mouth, but NOT have sleep apnea?
3) WHY does mouth breathing cause dry mouth for the REST OF THE DAY? I can understand why it would cause dry mouth in the morning, but why the rest of the day?
4) I said my dry mouth has almost gone away entirely, but yesterday, all day, was like a relapse or something, it was really bad. It literally feels like the glands under my tongue/in my throat are swollen or blocked – they just won’t produce saliva. But then today is much better again.
5) The dentist I saw said it DOES make sense that dry mouth issues would be getting much better due to improved hygiene. Would you say he is talking out of his ____ or would you say maybe he knows more about this specific thing than you?
6) If I do not feel sleep deprived, my dry mouth problems are going away (accept for yesterday), I continue to lose weight, etc, there is no time sensitive need to see a doctor now, right? I could always just see a physician on my next regularly scheduled visit, which is a couple months away?
7) As I lay in bed I think, “ok, can I breath through my nose?” The reality is that I cannot. I can for a time, but it takes effort. Since I don’t have a stuffy nose, I feel this is due to my weight, like the fat in my throat/neck blocks part of the airway to and from my nostrils. So I feel I have to “push” and “pull” a little when I breath through my nose. Since I don’t remember being a mouth breather before I put all this weight on, would you agree it is a reasonable assumption that my weight is the cause of all this and that if I lose it these problems will likely go away? I know you cannot give a definitive answer, but would you say that is the likely explanation? Or, regarding number four, with the whole thing about the swollen, blocked feeling in my glands, producing no saliva (as was the case all day yesterday), might there be something more urgent to consider?
Thanks for all your help
2) Can one be obese, be a mouth breather, have dry mouth, but NOT have sleep apnea?
3) WHY does mouth breathing cause dry mouth for the REST OF THE DAY? I can understand why it would cause dry mouth in the morning, but why the rest of the day?
4) I said my dry mouth has almost gone away entirely, but yesterday, all day, was like a relapse or something, it was really bad. It literally feels like the glands under my tongue/in my throat are swollen or blocked – they just won’t produce saliva. But then today is much better again.
5) The dentist I saw said it DOES make sense that dry mouth issues would be getting much better due to improved hygiene. Would you say he is talking out of his ____ or would you say maybe he knows more about this specific thing than you?
6) If I do not feel sleep deprived, my dry mouth problems are going away (accept for yesterday), I continue to lose weight, etc, there is no time sensitive need to see a doctor now, right? I could always just see a physician on my next regularly scheduled visit, which is a couple months away?
7) As I lay in bed I think, “ok, can I breath through my nose?” The reality is that I cannot. I can for a time, but it takes effort. Since I don’t have a stuffy nose, I feel this is due to my weight, like the fat in my throat/neck blocks part of the airway to and from my nostrils. So I feel I have to “push” and “pull” a little when I breath through my nose. Since I don’t remember being a mouth breather before I put all this weight on, would you agree it is a reasonable assumption that my weight is the cause of all this and that if I lose it these problems will likely go away? I know you cannot give a definitive answer, but would you say that is the likely explanation? Or, regarding number four, with the whole thing about the swollen, blocked feeling in my glands, producing no saliva (as was the case all day yesterday), might there be something more urgent to consider?
Thanks for all your help
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jul 16, 2004 12:00AM
, Jul 16, 2004 12:00AM
To answer your questions:
1) Mouth breathing does increase the risk and severity of gingivitis. There are a good proportion of people who mouth breathe.
2) Can't say based on those facts alone. Of course, anything is possible. The only way to be sure is via a sleep study.
3) Tough to say. Certainly any type of chronic sinus symptoms or allergies can lead to mouth breathing throughout the day, leading to dry mouth throughout the day. Also a wide variety of medications can also lead to dry mouth.
4) Another consideration would be a rheumatological disease known as Sjorgen's syndrome - which can also lead to chronic dry mouth. You may want to consider a rheumatology referral if this is suspected by your personal physician.
5) I would probably say he knows more than me at this point, since he has examined you, and I haven't.
6) I cannot comment on how urgent you need to see a physician without actually examining you.
7) A variety of ENT issues - such as a deviated septum, chronic sinusitis, or allergies, can prevent you from breathing through your nose. A referral to an ENT specialist is advisable to evaluate this.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
1) Mouth breathing does increase the risk and severity of gingivitis. There are a good proportion of people who mouth breathe.
2) Can't say based on those facts alone. Of course, anything is possible. The only way to be sure is via a sleep study.
3) Tough to say. Certainly any type of chronic sinus symptoms or allergies can lead to mouth breathing throughout the day, leading to dry mouth throughout the day. Also a wide variety of medications can also lead to dry mouth.
4) Another consideration would be a rheumatological disease known as Sjorgen's syndrome - which can also lead to chronic dry mouth. You may want to consider a rheumatology referral if this is suspected by your personal physician.
5) I would probably say he knows more than me at this point, since he has examined you, and I haven't.
6) I cannot comment on how urgent you need to see a physician without actually examining you.
7) A variety of ENT issues - such as a deviated septum, chronic sinusitis, or allergies, can prevent you from breathing through your nose. A referral to an ENT specialist is advisable to evaluate this.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b
