mouth breathing

1. INTRODUCTION TO HABITS
AND
MOUTH BREATHING HABIT
Presented by:
Jigyasha timsina
Batch 2011

2. CONTENTS:
• Introduction
• Classification
• Etiology
• Mouth Breathing
habit
• Clinical features
• Diagnosis
• Management

3. HABITS
• Habit as quoted by ‘Hogeboon’ and attributed by
Salder is the methodical way in which mind and
body act as a result of the frequent repetition of
a certain definite sets of nervous impulses.

4. • Fixed or constant practice established by frequent
repetition
Dorland
• Frequent or constant practice or acquired tendency,
which has been fixed by frequent repetition
Buttersworth
• Habits are learnt pattern of muscle contraction of a
very complex nature
MOYER

5. Classification
James (1923) a)useful habits
b)harmful habits
Kingsley(1958) a)Functional habits
b)Muscular habits
c)Combined
Morris and Bohanna(1969) a)Pressure habits
b)Bitting habits

6. • Klein (1971) a)Empty habits
b)Meaningful habits
• Finn (1987) 1) a)Compulsive habits
b)Non Compulsive habits
2) a)Primary habits
b)Secondary habits

7. HabitsFrequency
Intensity
Duration

8. ETIOLOGY OF HABIT DEVELOPMENT
1) Anatomical:
For ex: Posture of tongue. Infantile swallow occurs
due to a large tongue in a small oral cavity coupled
with anterior open bite

9. 2)Mechanical interferences
3) Pathological
4) Emotional
5) Imitation
6) Random behavior

10. Commonly occuring habits
• Thumb-sucking
• Tongue thrusting
• Mouth breathing
• Bruxism
• Nail biting
• Finger biting
• Masochistic

11. Mouth Breathing
CHACKER FM (1961)
Defined mouth breathing as a prolonged or continued
exposure of the tissues of anterior areas of mouth to the
drying effects of inspired air.
Merle (1980) - Suggested the term oro - nasal breathing
instead of mouth breathing

12. CLASSIFICATION
A) Obstructive
B) Habitual.
C) Anatomic.

13. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
a) Lowering of the mandible.
b) Positioning of the tongue downwards and
forwards.
Lowering of the tongue and mandible upsets the
orofacial equilibrium. There is an unrestricted buccinator
activity that influences the position of the teeth and also
the growth of jaws.

14. Clinical feature
• Adenoid faces

15. Normal Mouth Breathers

18. Diagnosis
• History
• Examination
• Clinical tests – Mirror test
Massler’s butterfly test
Water hold test

19. • CHEPHALOMETRY
• RHINOMANOMETRY

20. MANAGEMENT
 Elimination of the cause
Interception of habits
A)Exercises
Lip exercise
Holding of metal disc between lips

21. B) Maxillo-thorax myotherapy
• advocated by Macaray in 1960
• used in conjuction to Macaray activator
• 10 sets of exercise while wearing the
activator thrice daily done

22. • Oral screen

23. • Correction of Malocclusion
class I malocclusion – oral shield
appliance
class II division I malocclusion
- monobloc activator

24. class III malocclusion
– chin cup

25. Conclusion
• Oral habits have a definite bearing on the
development of occlusion.
• One may acquire certain habits that may either
temporarily or permanently be harmful to dental
occlusion and to the tooth supporting structures.
• So, such habits should be identified and treated
as soon as possible.

26. • Harmful oral habits include :
1.Finger or thumb sucking
2.Mouth breathing
3.Bruxism
4.Cheek / Lip biting
5. All

27. • Etiology of mouth breathing is:
1) Rhinitis and Sinusitis
2)over eruption of lower incisors touching
the palatal mucosa
3)deviated nasal septum
4)all of the above

28. • Due to habit of mouth breathing:
1) lower lips become hyperactive
2) upper lips become hypoactive
3) both lips become hypoactive
4) upper lips become hyperactive

29. REFERENCES
• Orthodontics the art and science
-S.I. Bhalajhi
• Text book of pedodontics
shova tandon
• Web