What your airway says about your overall health
In this episode of The Bottom Line, we sit down with Dr. Donny Mandrawa, an airway-focused dentist and founder of a practice dedicated to helping patients improve their health through better breathing, sleep, and airway function.
While many people associate dentistry with teeth and gums, Dr. Mandrawa's work extends far beyond the mouth. His approach focuses on identifying how airway issues, dysfunctional breathing patterns, and poor sleep quality can contribute to a wide range of health concerns, including fatigue, poor concentration, behavioural challenges, and chronic health conditions.
The conversation explores why breathing is one of the most overlooked aspects of health and how small, everyday habits can have a significant impact on the way we breathe and function.
Breathing: The Function We Rarely Think About
Breathing is something we do every moment of every day, yet very few people stop to consider whether they are breathing correctly.
According to Dr. Mandrawa, many common issues that people accept as normal may actually be signs of dysfunctional breathing. These can include:
Mouth breathing
Snoring
Teeth grinding
Dry mouth
Poor sleep quality
Daytime fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Because these symptoms often develop gradually, they are frequently overlooked or treated in isolation rather than being connected to a larger airway issue.
The challenge is that breathing affects far more than oxygen intake. It influences sleep, recovery, energy levels, cognitive performance, and overall health.
Understanding Functional vs Dysfunctional Breathing
One of the key themes discussed throughout the episode is the difference between functional and dysfunctional breathing.
Functional breathing generally involves:
Breathing through the nose
Maintaining proper tongue posture
Efficient oxygen exchange
Consistent breathing patterns during sleep and wakefulness
Dysfunctional breathing, on the other hand, often involves compensatory patterns such as mouth breathing or shallow breathing that can place additional stress on the body.
While many people assume breathing problems are only relevant during exercise or sleep, Dr. Mandrawa explains that breathing habits influence how the body functions throughout the entire day.
Over time, these patterns can affect sleep quality, recovery, mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.
The Connection Between Airway Health and Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important recovery tools available to us, yet many people struggle to achieve quality sleep without understanding why.
The discussion highlights how airway restrictions and breathing dysfunction can significantly impact sleep quality, even when individuals believe they are getting enough hours in bed.
Common signs that airway health may be affecting sleep include:
Loud snoring
Restless sleep
Frequent waking during the night
Teeth grinding
Morning headaches
Waking up tired despite adequate sleep duration
For many people, the issue is not simply how long they sleep but how effectively they are breathing while asleep.
When breathing becomes compromised during sleep, the body's ability to recover and restore itself is also affected.
Your Lifestyle Shows Up in Your Breathing
One of the more interesting insights from the conversation is that breathing does not happen in isolation.
Nutrition, movement, stress levels, posture, and daily habits all influence how we breathe.
Poor lifestyle habits can contribute to dysfunctional breathing patterns, while healthy habits can support better airway function and overall health.
This means that improving breathing often requires a broader approach than simply focusing on the airway itself.
It involves looking at the entire picture, including:
Physical activity levels
Sleep routines
Nutrition
Stress management
Daily behavioural habits
The body functions as an interconnected system, and breathing is often a reflection of what is happening elsewhere.
Why Early Intervention Matters
Many airway and breathing issues begin developing early in life.
Dr. Mandrawa discusses how certain signs in children may indicate airway concerns that warrant further investigation, including:
Chronic mouth breathing
Snoring
Difficulty concentrating
Behavioural challenges
Sleep disturbances
Identifying these issues early can provide opportunities to address the underlying causes before they become more significant problems later in life.
This is particularly important because airway development can influence overall health, growth, and quality of life.
Looking Beyond Symptoms
A recurring theme throughout the episode is the importance of understanding root causes rather than simply managing symptoms.
Fatigue, poor concentration, low energy, and disrupted sleep are often treated as isolated issues. However, in many cases, they may be linked to an underlying breathing or airway problem.
Rather than asking how to manage the symptom, Dr. Mandrawa encourages patients and practitioners to ask why the symptom exists in the first place.
This shift in thinking can lead to more meaningful and long-term improvements in health outcomes.
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Improving breathing and airway health does not always require dramatic intervention.
For many people, awareness is the first step.
Understanding how breathing works, recognising potential warning signs, and seeking appropriate assessment can often uncover opportunities for meaningful improvement.
Whether it's addressing mouth breathing, improving sleep habits, or identifying airway restrictions, small changes can have a significant impact on energy, performance, recovery, and overall wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
Breathing is one of the most fundamental functions of the human body, yet it remains one of the most overlooked.
As awareness around airway health continues to grow, more people are beginning to recognise the connection between breathing, sleep, and long-term health.
For business owners, professionals, parents, and anyone looking to improve their overall wellbeing, understanding how you breathe may be one of the most valuable places to start.
Listen to the full episode of The Bottom Line with Dr. Donny Mandrawa to learn how airway health, breathing patterns, and sleep quality can influence your health and what steps you can take to optimise them.