Perhaps you’ve heard that the way you breathe can change the shape of your face?
Chronic mouth breathing doesn’t just cause dry mouth or bad breath - it can also actually reshape your jawline and impact your facial structure!
In this article, we’ll explore what causes mouth breathing, how it affects your jawline, the long-term side effects of this bad habit, and effective strategies to transition to healthier nasal breathing instead.
What Causes Mouth Breathing
Mouth breathing has a variety of causes that can lead you to rely on using your mouth instead of your nose in order to get oxygen. Chronic mouth breathing is often caused by:
- Nasal obstructions: Certain conditions like a deviated septum, nasal polyps, enlarged adenoids, or allergies can physically block the ability to breathe through your nose.
- Enlarged tonsils: If your tonsils are swollen, this can also obstruct your airway, making nasal breathing difficult.
- Facial development issues: Some children with improper facial development might have narrowed airways that can encourage mouth breathing.
- Sleep disorders: Certain conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea can force the mouth open for airflow.
4 Effects Mouth Breathing Has on Your Jawline
Chronic mouth breathing can impact jaw health and facial structure in a few different ways. Let’s take a look:
- Narrower face and jaw: Breathing through your mouth, especially from a young age, can result in less developed facial structures. This might give your face a narrower appearance.
- Misaligned teeth: Improper tongue posture from mouth breathing during childhood might increase the risk of crooked teeth.
- Recessed chin and weak jawline: Chronic mouth breathers might develop a receding chin.
- Postural issues: Mouth breathing can also affect your head and neck posture, which over time can put a strain on your jaw and facial muscles. (1) (2)
You can learn more here about the effects of mouth breathing vs nose breathing on your jawline and health.
Other Side Effects of Mouth Breathing
Mouth breathing side effects go beyond just the aesthetics of your jawline and can lead to:
- Dry mouth and increased risk of gum disease: Mouth breathing creates a dry environment in your oral cavity by increasing the evaporation of your saliva. This can significantly increase the risk of cavities and gum problems (not to mention, bad breath). (3)
- More frequent illness: Without nasal breathing, the body loses a natural filter for allergens and pathogens. This means that mouth breathing might make you more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections. (4)
- Impact on heart health: Mouth breathing can result in lower oxygen intake compared to nasal breathing, which can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart issues.
Treatments for Mouth Breathing
Mouth Tape
The easiest solution to instantly stop mouth breathing is using mouth tape.
This simple practice involves gently sealing your lips with medical-grade tape before sleeping to prevent mouth breathing and promote healthier nasal breathing. You can also use mouth tape during the day to help you get into the habit of nasal breathing. (5)
Learn more here about the benefits of mouth taping for sleep.
To get started on your mouth taping journey it’s essential to choose a high-quality product that is both comfortable and effective.
Considered the best mouth tape for sleeping, Dream Recovery is made with organic bamboo silk and a specialized hypoallergenic adhesive. This makes Dream Recovery Mouth Tape luxuriously soft, gentle on sensitive skin, eco-friendly, and durable for all-night wear.
Transform your jawline with Dream Recovery Mouth Tape now.
Mouth Guards
Mouthguards, also called “mandibular advancement devices” can help to adjust the position of your jaw to prevent chronic mouth breathing at night time.
Mouth guards are especially effective for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea, as they help keep the airway open during sleep by placing the jaw in a slightly more forward position.
For best results, consult with a dentist or orthodontist to get a mouth guard tailored to your needs. Over-the-counter options are available, but they may not provide the same level of comfort and effectiveness as custom devices.
While mouth guards are one of the best devices to keep your mouth closed while sleeping, they are less effective than mouth tape and much more uncomfortable.
Want to learn more here about the pros and cons of mouth guards? Keep reading here at: Do Mouth Guards Help With Snoring?
Chin Straps
Chin straps wrap around the head and under the chin in order to keep the mouth closed while you’re sleeping.
They’re an affordable solution for some cases of mouth breathing and come in a variety of designs to meet different head shapes and preferences. They are particularly useful for individuals whose mouths tend to fall open while sleeping.
However, chin straps are usually less effective than mouth tape, since they don’t fully prevent mouth breathing. Chin straps are also a lot bulkier than mouth tape, with some users finding them hot, uncomfortable, and a disruption to their sleep.
Nasal Strips or Dilators
Have you been wondering “Why can’t I breathe through my nose?”. Well, then you might benefit from nasal strips or dilators!
These simple devices can be effective tools for improving airflow through your nose in order to reduce the likelihood of mouth breathing.
Nasal strips are adhesive bands that gently lift the sides of the nose to open the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through your nose.
Nasal dilators, work in a similar way, except they are inserted into the nostrils to keep them open from the inside out.
Both nasal strips and nasal dilators can significantly improve airflow, reduce snoring, and prevent the need to breathe through your mouth. However, they don’t always eliminate mouth breathing if it’s become a habit since you can still open your mouth.
Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy involves exercises that strengthen the tongue, facial muscles, and jaw to improve breathing patterns and tongue posture.
These exercises are designed to retrain the body to use nasal breathing and prevent the adverse effects of mouth breathing. They might also help to tighten the jawline naturally.
A myofunctional therapist can help you with a personalized program to address your specific needs. This therapy is particularly effective when begun in childhood to promote proper facial growth and development.
FAQ
Can mouth breathing change my face shape?
Yes, mouth breathing can change your face shape. Mouth breathing might make your face appear narrower and increase the risk of a receding chin, misaligned teeth, and a more forward head posture.
Can mouth breathing cause a double chin?
Mouth breathing will not directly cause a double chin, but it might contribute due to changes in the appearance of your jawline area.
Can you reverse the facial effects of mouth breathing?
If you’ve been mouth breathing since childhood, it might not be possible to completely reverse the facial effects of mouth breathing. However, by using strategies like mouth taping, facial exercises, and nasal strips you can get into the habit of nasal breathing and support better facial aesthetics over time.
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that mouth breathing can significantly impact your jawline, facial structure, and overall health.
Addressing it early is particularly important and might involve using treatments like mouth tape, a mouth guard, nasal strips, and myofunctional therapy to improve your breathing habits.
Say goodbye to mouth breathing today with Dream Recovery Mouth Tape.
References:
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Zheng, W., Zhang, X., Dong, J., & He, J. (2020). Facial morphological characteristics of mouth breathers vs. nasal breathers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of lateral cephalometric data. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 19(6), 3738–3750. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8611
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Jefferson Y. (2010). Mouth breathing: adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior. General dentistry, 58(1), 18–80.
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Tamkin J. (2020). Impact of airway dysfunction on dental health. Bioinformation, 16(1), 26–29. https://doi.org/10.6026/97320630016026
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Freeman SC, Karp DA, Kahwaji CI. Physiology, Nasal. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526086/
- Lee, Y. C., Lu, C. T., Cheng, W. N., & Li, H. Y. (2022). The Impact of Mouth-Taping in Mouth-Breathers with Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Study. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(9), 1755. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10091755