Medically reviewed by Dr. Amin P. Samadian, DDS, MBA, Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. Last reviewed November 7, 2026.
Your nose is built for breathing. It filters, warms and moistens the air, and nasal breathing keeps the tongue up and the jaw in a stable position. When breathing shifts to the mouth, especially at night, people often notice a dry mouth on waking, snoring, clenching and sleep that does not feel restful. At the San Francisco Center for TMJ and Sleep Apnea we look for why it is happening and help adults and children get back to breathing through the nose. Call 415-570-2841 to book an evaluation.
Signs you may be breathing through your mouth
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Snoring, or a partner noticing your mouth open while you sleep
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
- Waking tired even after a full night
- Lips apart at rest during the day
- In children: snoring, restless sleep, crowded teeth or a narrow palate
Why people end up breathing through the mouth
Usually there is a reason the nose is not doing the job. Common ones are:
- Blocked nose: allergies, chronic congestion, a deviated septum or large turbinates
- Tonsils and adenoids: especially in children
- A narrow upper jaw: the floor of the nose is the roof of the mouth, so a narrow, high palate often means a smaller nasal passage
- Tongue posture and tongue tie: a tongue that rests low lets the mouth fall open
- Habit: after years of mouth breathing, the pattern can continue even once the nose is clear
How mouth breathing ties into sleep and TMJ
When you cannot breathe easily through your nose at night, the jaw and tongue muscles work to keep the airway open, and that effort often shows up as clenching and grinding. Mouth breathing also lets the jaw drop and the tongue fall back, which can add to snoring and to sleep apnea. That is why we look at breathing in every TMJ and sleep evaluation.
How we help
Finding the cause
We examine the nose, the palate, the tongue and the bite, and a 3D scan shows the nasal passage and airway. If sleep apnea is possible, a home sleep study measures it.
ENT coordination
When the nose itself is blocked, we refer to and work with ENTs we know well, because no amount of training fixes a nose that cannot pass air.
Nasal breathing training and myofunctional therapy
Our nasal breathing training and myofunctional therapy retrain lip seal, tongue posture and breathing patterns, so nose breathing becomes the default again, including at night.
Widening a narrow upper jaw
For children, palatal expansion and ALF guide the upper jaw while it grows. For adults, MARPE can widen the upper jaw, and the nasal floor with it, often without surgery.
Oral appliance therapy
For adults with snoring or sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance holds the jaw forward during sleep to keep the airway open.
Book an evaluation in San Francisco
We are at 260 Stockton St, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108. Call 415-570-2841 or request an appointment online.
