Does breathing through your mouth deform your face?
This is one of the most common questions we receive at our dental clinic in Valencia from mothers and fathers concerned about their children's dental health.
As we've seen in previous posts, the position of the tongue in the mouth is an important factor affecting facial development. When we breathe through our mouths or simply open them, the tongue naturally falls downwards and is no longer pressed against the roof of the mouth, which is what happens when we have our mouths closed and breathe through our noses.
If the tongue is not positioned correctly, it will exert abnormal force on the teeth when swallowing or resting, which can cause the teeth to shift and become uneven. Long-term mouth breathing can also cause the jaw to recede, facial muscles to stiffen, and the cervical spine to tilt forward. As shown in the image:
Besides worsening the appearance, long-term mouth breathing It can also affect mental development due to poor breathing and hypoxia. In severe cases, it can cause memory loss, slow reaction times, and a lower IQ. Snoring and holding your breath at night can cause Cerebral hypoxia, which not only affects intelligence, but can also affect the release of growth hormone, which eventually leads to short stature. Therefore, Mouth breathing cannot be ignored and the consequences are many.
How can parents tell if their child is breathing through their mouth?
If you observe the following behaviors in your child daily, it is recommended that you schedule a consultation for treatment:
1- Open mouth at night, frequent snoring, restless sleep
2- Cracked lips, unpleasant breath, hoarse voice
3- Daytime apathy, lack of attention, irritability
4- Heavy nasal sounds, etc.
At Midsa we specialize in the treatment of this pathology using the Aragao function regulator technique (RFA), is a treatment that reaches all parts of the human body from the mouth, integrating the functions of the brain nerves, such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, smell, taste, hearing, balance and vision.
How to correct mouth breathing?
Breathing through your mouth can not only cause bad breath and dryness, but it also affects oral health, leading to problems such as cavities and misaligned teeth. To correct this habit, it is essential to visit your dentist.
A dentist can identify the cause, which may be related to structural problems such as an incorrect bite or overgrown tonsils. They may also recommend solutions such as orthodontic appliances or myofunctional therapy to improve nasal breathing.
Don't let mouth breathing affect your health, visit your dentist and receive proper treatment!
