Snake Oil?

My family is constantly chiding me on my fixation with mouth breathing.  Evidence of its importance to health seems to be everywhere I look and yet they don't have a context to understand my every mention of it.  They just roll their eyes.   Wait 'til they read this post....

I came across an ad from the 1930's, pictured here.  I saw it some time ago and sloughed it off.  Today, I read it again and it didn't seem so funny.  Read it yourself....

People on another blog were making fun of it.  So, I just had to add my two cents as follows:

"I can't believe I'm actually making this post, but after 28 years in the dental profession and now becoming fluent in the realm of sleep apnea and it's ravages, I can tell you in all seriousness that this somewhat inelegant method has merit!  Mouth breathing is still considered a deterrent to longevity.  And that's from day one of life.  

• Mouth breathing affects oxygen balance and metabolism (with lowered oxygenation of tissues).

• It allows unfiltered air to irritate the respiratory tract (hence, allergies, asthma, URT infections and swollen lymph tissue).

• It affects the tone of smooth muscle (like in blood vessels and organs).

• It leaves the upper jaw unsupported during growth (hence, crooked teeth).

• In fact, both obstructive and centrally-mediated forms of sleep apnea are aggravated by mouth breathing. 

 I've never considered selling snake oil, but I just might like to see this product make a return...."

And there you have it.  I said "snake oil".  Now they'll really think I'm off the deep end.  And, hey, at $3.00, it couldn't hurt...STEP RIGHT UP!....