Years ago Ted Slanker wrote an essay about notable meat eaters. One of them was Dr. Kevin Stock, a dentist. I’ve been following Kevin through his weekly “Saturday 7" newsletter ever since. He has what he calls the “Meat Academy” where he teaches nutrition and the importance of meat being the center of the diet.

He also writes often about teeth, gums, and jaw development and how it’s impacted by diet. One aspect of daily living he’s been harping on for some time now is mouth breathing and snoring. The mouth breathing part isn’t something that’s been on my radar.

Then a month ago or so Dr. Robert W. Malone wrote an article about “The Nose and Sinuses: The Gatekeepers of the Respiratory Tract.” In it he recommended a nasal spray that safely keeps the sinuses open.

I searched around for competitive products and ran across HypoNasal Hypochlorous Acid Nasal Spray by Nefense. I bought it because its cost per ounce was less than the product Dr. Malone recommended. But they are the same thing which is a saline solution combined with Hypochlorous acid which your own immune cells release to keep nasal passages clean.

Let me say that it works wonders by eliminating nighttime nasal congestion. But again, it will NOT stop mouth breathing.

With the recent prodding I received from Stock’s and Malone’s comments I decided to look up the issues of mouth breathing. It turns out it’s far from a laughing matter for sure!

Veronica Hackethal M.D., in “Mouth Breathing At Night: Causes and Health Effects,” says Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose during sleep might seem harmless, but this common issue can significantly impact your health, sleep quality, and even facial development over time. Many people wake up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or feeling unrested without realizing that nighttime mouth breathing is the culprit. Understanding the causes and effects of this condition is crucial for protecting your long-term health and getting the restorative sleep your body needs.

She adds. Mouth breathing at night often indicates blocked nasal passages or enlarged adenoids/tonsils. Chronic nighttime mouth breathing can lead to dental problems, poor sleep quality, and facial development issues. Children who mouth breathe at night may experience behavioral problems and delayed growth.

Then I asked AI about mouth breathing and Sleep Apnea. On this AI is really concerned.

Mouth breathing can be a sign of sleep apnea, as it often occurs when nasal airflow is obstructed, leading to breathing difficulties during sleep. Chronic mouth breathing may also exacerbate sleep apnea symptoms and affect overall health, particularly in children.

Mouth breathing is often associated with sleep apnea, particularly when nasal airflow is obstructed. This can lead to significant breathing difficulties during sleep. When the nose is blocked due to congestion, allergies, or anatomical issues, individuals may resort to breathing through their mouths. Chronic mouth breathing can worsen sleep apnea symptoms, leading to disrupted sleep and other health issues.

Mouth breathing, especially in children, can have several negative effects:

• Sleep Quality: It can lead to snoring, dry mouth, and interrupted sleep.
• Developmental Issues: In children, persistent mouth breathing may alter facial growth and dental alignment, increasing the risk of sleep-disordered breathing.
• Overall Health: Chronic mouth breathing can contribute to daytime sleepiness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

If mouth breathing is frequent, especially during sleep, it may indicate an underlying issue such as sleep apnea. Key signs include:

• Loud snoring
• Daytime fatigue or irritability
• Difficulty focusing
• Changes in facial structure or dental alignment

Addressing mouth breathing and its potential link to sleep apnea is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being.

As you can see mouth breathing is a significant health problem that must be addressed. And this is where Kevin Stock’s recent SnoreSealer invention comes into play.

Learn About SnoreSealer

He says the solution is simple, but not easy: keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth. The natural tongue-to-palate suction keeps your lips closed and forces you to breathe through your nose. But “just keep your tongue on your palate” isn’t useful advice when you’re asleep.

Also, just closing your lips doesn't fix the tongue position. This is why mouth tape often fails. Besides being a nuisance, tape alone doesn't fix tongue posture. The tongue can still drop to the floor of the mouth and collapse back into the airway, causing snoring—or worse.

What is needed is a lip seal and a tongue-to-palate seal.

SnoreSealer rests comfortably between your lips and teeth. Once in place, all you have to do is swallow and it creates the gentle suction that's needed to hold your tongue against your palate. The secret to better sleep is natural nasal breathing. The secret to nasal breathing is maintaining that dual lip-and-tongue seal. The secret to that dual seal is SnoreSealer.

I know that this essay is off our normal “eat meat” and “balance the EFAs” drum roll. But it’s a simple solution to a health problem that starts quite young. Just like diet, the sooner you start on the proper path the better are your odds for retaining your health over the years. And it’s heartwarming to know that Drs. Jill and Robert Malone have recently discovered that meat is the most important food they can eat. That proves one is never too old (or too young) to learn new ways.

SnoreSealer from Kevin Stock https://snorebuds.com/products/snoresealer

The Nose and Sinuses: The Gatekeepers of the Respiratory Tract by Dr. Robert W. Malone https://www.malone.news/p/the-nose-and-sinuses-the-gatekeepers

HypoNasal Hypochlorous Acid Nasal Spray by Nefense https://nefense.com/shop/hyponasal

Mouth Breathing At Night: Causes and Health Effects by Veronica Hackethal | MD, MSc, Harvard University https://www.doctronic.ai/blog/mouth-breathing-at-night

Saturday 7 by Kevin Stock https://kevinstock.io/saturday-7