The Hidden Sleep Robber

Having trouble getting your Zzzzs? The problem could be poor breathing habits

- Vera Tweed

When you wake up in the morning, do you feel refreshed and ready to conquer the day? Even if you dutifully put aside electronic devices well before bedtime and allow enough time for a good night’s sleep, poor breathing habits could be robbing you of sleep that is truly restful.

“The big issue is that people can’t breathe through their noses,” says Steven Lin, DDS, author of The Dental Diet. The problem stems from a lifelong diet of soft, processed foods—and for many people, not having been breastfed as infants—both of which impair healthy development of the jaw and muscles that support our airways. As a result, the nasal passages and throat can be too narrow or obstructed.