Nose breathing produces nitric oxide, unlike mouth breathing. Nitric oxide helps the body transport and absorb oxygen more efficiently. Breathing through the nose also adds moisture to dry air, which helps the lungs stay healthy.

Decreased nitric oxide leads to decreased cognitive and heart function, weakened immunity, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation.

Athletic Performance

Studies show that nose breathing improves endurance. In addition, perceived exertion tends to be lower. This means that nose breathing helps decrease the feelings of exhaustion when exercising.

Nose breathing has also shown to help lower breath rates during exercise. So, nose breathing helps athletes catch their breath efficiently. In turn, controlled breathing during exercise contributes to increased athletic performance.

Sleep Quality

Quality sleep helps the body rest, recover, and gain energy. As nose breathing and nitric oxide production help the body increase athletic performance, nose breathing also helps increase sleep quality. So how do people develop nose breathing sleep habits?

Taping the Mouth

Taping the mouth shut has helped many adults nose breathe when sleeping.

But is it dangerous? So far, there are no indications against mouth taping. But just in case, professionals do not recommend to mouth tape babies or younger children. Older children, teenagers, and adults should be safe when mouth taping.

If the nose gets clogged, the body’s survival instincts kick in. The brain should force us to wake up. Taping the mouth shut may even help keep the nose from clogging up..