Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-05
MOUTH BREATHING AND
ITS EFFECT ON HEALTH


Perhaps the reader does not realize
that mouth-breathing was not intend
ed by nature as a means of furnishing
air to the lungs. 1t is by no means
the normal mode of respiration.
Possibly you have been aware of the
fact that your child breathes through
his mouth. Keeps 1t partly open while
asleep and awake and because you
thought 1t was all right or that he
would "outgrow" it you have done
nothing as yet to correct or prevent
this serious perversion of normal res
piratory functions.
Mouth breathing has a marked effect
upon the general health of the in
dividual.
First-The substitution of mouth
breathing for normal nasal respiration
admits countless numbers of bacteria
with the inspired air. These would or
dinarily find Judgement on the moist
mucous membrane covering the tur-
binate bodies in the nose.
Second-The air enters the lungs cold
and dry, whereas 1t should be warm
and moist. Such interference with such
an important function produces dele
terious effects in the lower air pass
ages, leading to attacks of Group, as
thma, influenza, pneumonia, and pre-
disposes to the opening of tubercular
focus in the lungs.
Third-Owing to this improper mode
of breathing the throat becomes filed
with thick and viscid secretion which
chokes the child, causing gurgling,
coughing and forced breathing. Watch
him sleeping.
Fourth--Not enough air enters the
lungs during this forced breathing, and
the amount which does is so dry that
it causes a drying of the delicate air
cells in the lungs, both of which inter-
fere with proper interchange of gases
between the inspired and expired air.
This results in the improper oxygena-
ton of the blood and thus affects the
nutrition of the tissues of the entire
body.
The child gets up in the morning
feeling tired, cross and peevish, decid-
edly nervous and quite irritable.
Soon there comes the lowering of vi
tality with lessened resistance to all
infectious and contagious diseases.
Nervous disorders are a common and
frequent sequaelae, due to lack of oxy-
gen to the lungs and it's attending eff
fects on the blood.
A child breathing through the mouth
is far more susceptible to the contrac-
ton of diphtheria, scarlet fever, whoop-
ing cough and tuberculosis than Is one
who has normal nasal respiration.
The child is usually timid, backward
at school, lacks aggreSS1VeneSS and is
oftentimes really stupid, all of which
speedily disappears on correcting the
trouble and establishing free breathing
through the nose.
Since "adenoids'' is the cause of
mouth breathing in 999 cases out of
1000, the removal of this mass speedily
brings about a relief from these dis
tressing symptoms and If done early in
life permits the bones of the face to
develop as nature planned.
A child with adenoids catches cold"
with every "change of the weather
and "sore throat" several times dur
ing the winter is the usual program.
The middle ear is improperly venti-
lated in this condition and after each
attack of "cold" or "sore throat" rem
ders the child subject to painful at
tacks of "earache," soon to be fol-
lowed by a dangerous and aggravat-
ing discharge from the ears.
The earlier child is examined and
any existing trouble corrected the bet
ter it will be for the child and, where
possible, 1t should be done before the
fifth or sixth year.
Mouth breathers are readily detected,
and as rule present the typical ade-
mold face" a badly shaped nose, promi-
nent front teeth, protruding upper lip.
eyes more or less widely separated,
pinched and worn expression, poorly
nourished, the rundown" appearance
and the usual "open mouth" most all
of which is seen in a single case, and If
attended to early can have all these ir-
regularities readily corrected.
That a good face is one of a PERSONS
most valuable assets is borne out in
everyday business life. 1t is invaluable