Mouth Breathing and Atypical Swallowing in Adult Orthodontic Patients at Egas Moniz Dental Clinic: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Mouth breathing and atypical swallowing are myofunctional problems, emerging as a pathological adaptation. This exploratory study was aimed to investigate the possible relation between breathing and swallowing patterns in adults. Methods: A total of 58 patients referred to the Orthodontic Department at Egas Moniz Dental Clinic were enrolled. Results: Atypical swallowing was more prevalent in women (78.0%) than in men (47.1%). A significantly higher proportion of patients exhibiting both mouth breathing and atypical swallowing were identified (46.6%). Swallowing pattern was found to be significantly associated with gender and breathing pattern.