We brush our teeth and wash our faces every day. Should we also be adding nose care to our daily routine?

Bioengineer David White certainly thinks so. He says the benefits will include better breathing and sleep, and may even extend to healthier brains. “The nose is very important to general health and wellbeing,” says White.

New Zealand has a high rate of nasal allergy prevalence driven by allergens. It affects up to 30% of adults and 40% of children. Pollen is a major cause - particularly pine and other plants, which can blow long distances in our often windy conditions. Dust mites, pet dander and mould are other common allergens. The nose becomes congested and inflamed in response, leading people to rely on medications such as antihistamines and nasal sprays or saline rinses to find relief.

White and his team at Auckland University of Technology have developed a drug-free alternative. They’ve named it Goodair Nosebuds, his world-first technology is designed to stimulate the user’s nasal nerves by adjusting airflow.

“I refer to it as supercharging your airway defence,” he says. “The problem is the nose is an organ that if you don’t use, you lose; it sort of goes to rest. That’s not good because it really is the frontline defence against infection for our airways and brain and humidifies the inhaled air to prepare it for the lungs. The mouth doesn’t do that.”

The technology works by harnessing the user’s breath to create vibrations that massage the inner nasal tissues and cilia, which are the nose hairs that work to propel mucus, trapped particles and pathogens out of the system.

“The air we breathe isn’t very clean,” says White. “There are lots of things floating around that we inhale all the time, and our nose acts as a filter.”

The vibrations, which make a humming noise, may also provide benefits for the brain. “The nasal passages are part of the body that plays an important role in protecting the brain, and chronic congestion stops that with each breath,” says White.

There is increasing evidence the brain is stimulated by nasal breathing. For instance, researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK found cyclic breathing while listening to music can lead to a reduction in fear and negative emotions.

Cyclic breathing - also known as cyclic sighing - involves a double inhale through the nose followed by a long slow exhale through the mouth. It influences blood-flow changes to the brain. Mouth breathing doesn’t have the same effect.

“There is evidence that mouth breathers are more likely to have learning difficulties than nasal breathers and it has also been linked to poorer performance and negativity,” adds White.

White says Goodair Nosebuds can help train people to return to nasal breathing as a habit because they become more aware of their air passages through the buzzing of the device.

His team has two studies under way, in normal and in heavy snorers, to investigate its benefits. “I’ve been using it for about 18 months and I may be biased, but I can’t breathe properly now without it,” he says, laughing.

Meanwhile, those who suffer from sinus infections and chronic allergic rhinitis are likely to be among those who benefit most. Early clinical trials for the device have been promising. A pilot study involving 21 people also found users’ nasal breathing improved.

The device is being sold online in New Zealand for $220. If used regularly for a few minutes daily, says White, “the improvement is fairly rapid - if you start today, in 14 days it’s going to make a significant performance. So it’s like a tonic for airway health.”