This gives the air time to warm up and humidify. It also gives the millions of cilia (tiny hairs) in our nasal passages time to pick up any nasty germs and particles that might be in the air we breathe. This is what keeps our lungs functioning optimally—well-conditioned and clean air.

Breathing through the nose also creates negative inward pressure and positive outward pressure, which helps to tone the soft tissues in our nasal passages and throat, pulling them back and opening the airways even further. This protects against muscle and soft tissue atrophy, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea.

On the other hand, when you open your mouth and inhale, there is no filter between what is coming in and your lungs, and no negative/positive pressure is created. These are the straight throat and trachea, and these are short tubes compared to the complex labyrinth of your nasal cavity.

In a world where wildfires, pollution and airborne viruses are becoming more commonplace, our nose is truly our first line of defense.