Could the way you breathe be affecting more than you realise?
Breathing Re-Education using the Buteyko Method for adults and children in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire.
Breathing is something we do thousands of times every day without thinking about it. But sometimes habits such as mouth breathing, frequent sighing, upper-chest breathing or breathing more heavily than the body needs can become our normal pattern.
At Soar Valley, Mia offers Breathing Re-Education using techniques based predominantly on the Buteyko Method, helping adults and children become more aware of their breathing and learn techniques designed to encourage calmer, more comfortable nasal breathing.
Could Breathing Re-Education be relevant to you?
You may never have thought about how you breathe. But sometimes there are little signs that make us take a closer look at someone's everyday breathing pattern.
Mouth breathing
Do you often find yourself breathing through your mouth, particularly when resting or sleeping?
Breathlessness
Do you sometimes feel you're breathing harder or faster than you would expect?
Dry mouth
Do you regularly wake with a dry mouth, sore throat or unpleasant taste?
Sleep & snoring
Has someone mentioned that you breathe through your mouth or snore while sleeping, or do you regularly wake feeling unrefreshed?
Frequent sighing or big breaths
Do you often feel the need to sigh, yawn or take a large breath to feel satisfied?
Nasal breathing feels difficult
Does breathing comfortably through your nose feel unfamiliar or difficult?
A little note: These signs can have many different causes and don't necessarily mean you have a breathing pattern problem. Breathing Re-Education isn't a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Where appropriate, we may recommend that you speak to your GP or another healthcare professional.
The Buteyko Method is a form of Breathing Re-Education developed in the 1950s by Professor Konstantin Buteyko. It focuses on recognising breathing habits that may have become less efficient over time and gradually introducing techniques designed to encourage quieter, gentler and more comfortable breathing.
Rather than simply telling you to “take a deep breath”, the Buteyko approach looks at how you breathe, how much you breathe and whether you breathe through your nose or mouth.
At Soar Valley, Mia adapts the techniques to each individual, introducing exercises gradually and giving you the opportunity to practise them at home between appointments.
What is the Buteyko Method?
Why is a dental practice interested in breathing?
Your mouth, teeth and jaws don't work in isolation. The way you breathe — particularly whether you habitually breathe through your nose or mouth — can have an effect on your oral environment.
Regular mouth breathing can contribute to a dry mouth, reducing the protective effect of saliva and potentially increasing the risk of problems such as tooth decay.
In children, we're also interested in breathing as part of the wider picture when looking at oral posture, the developing teeth and jaws, and how everything is functioning together.
Oral health
Mouth breathing can contribute to a dry mouth, reducing the protective effect of saliva.
Growing smiles
In children, breathing is one part of the wider picture we consider as the teeth and jaws develop.
Looking at the whole picture
BRE complements our approach to prevention, children's dentistry and early assessment.
It's one of the reasons Breathing Re-Education sits so naturally alongside the preventive and early-intervention care we already provide at Soar Valley.
Your first Breathing Assessment
40 minutes · £50
Your first appointment with Mia is all about understanding how you currently breathe.
She'll talk with you about any symptoms or breathing habits you've noticed and look at things such as whether you tend to breathe through your nose or mouth, your breathing pattern and how comfortable nasal breathing feels for you.
From there, Mia can explain whether Breathing Re-Education may be appropriate for you and, if so, introduce some initial techniques tailored to your individual needs.
There’s no expectation that everyone who has an assessment will need a full course of sessions. The first appointment gives you the opportunity to understand your breathing pattern and decide on the most appropriate next step.
For adults and children
BRE is available for adults and children from around 5–6 years old, depending on the individual child and their ability to engage with the exercises.
If Breathing Re-Education is right for you
Up to 5 sessions · 1 hour each · £450
Breathing Re-Education isn’t about learning a technique in one appointment and then forgetting about it. If you decide to continue after your initial assessment, Mia will work with you over a course of sessions, gradually introducing techniques based on your individual breathing pattern and needs.
A gradual, personalised approach
Everyone breathes differently, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all programme. Mia will adapt the exercises and pace of the sessions to suit you, building on each stage as you become more comfortable and confident with the techniques.
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Practice between appointments
Mia will give you simple exercises to practise at home, helping you become more aware of your everyday breathing habits and gradually put what you've learned into practice.
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Building on your progress
At each appointment, Mia can review how you’ve been getting on, answer any questions and adapt or progress your exercises where appropriate. The aim is to make changes gradually, at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Small changes, practised consistently, can help new breathing habits become more familiar over time.