Struggling with mouth breather face in Charlotte, NC? Frequent mouth breathing can disrupt proper tongue posture and tongue positioning, leading to lasting changes in facial growth. This may result in a longer face, a narrow arch or jaw structure, crowding of the teeth, and even breathing difficulties.
What Is Mouth Breather Face?
Mouth breather face refers to a set of changes that happen when you breathe mainly through your mouth for a long time, instead of your nose. This habit can shift your facial structure and even cause health problems.
Common symptoms of mouth breather face include:
- A longer, thinner face
- An open mouth, even at rest
- A narrow, high upper jaw (palate)
- Dark circles under the eyes
Over the years, this habit can affect jaw development and how your teeth line up. People may notice a “longer” face and bite problems. Children may have trouble speaking, sleeping well, or closing their lips. These changes can lower confidence and make kids or adults self-conscious about how they look.
Common Causes of Mouth Breathing
To fix a problem from mouth breather face, it helps to know where it starts. The most common causes for mouth breathing are:
1. Nasal or Airway Issues
Some people can’t breathe through their nose because something is blocked. This could be:
- Allergies
- A deviated septum (a twist in the nose)
- Inflamed or large tonsils and adenoids
When the nose is blocked, the body switches to mouth breathing. This is especially common for kids with swollen tonsils or adults with nasal allergies.
2. Habitual Mouth Breathing
For some, mouth breathing starts as a way to cope with allergies or a cold but sticks around as a habit. Even after the airway problem is gone, the body keeps breathing this way. Sometimes adults and children don’t even notice it until the symptoms start to show.
3. Other Causes
Sometimes it happens because of sickness, sinus infections, or stress. Rarely, issues with mouth muscles or nerves can also play a role. Spotting the cause will help you and your doctor pick the right treatment or solutions and stop further changes to your face or jaw.
How Mouth Breathing Changes Your Face and Jaw
Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can cause real changes in how your face and jaw grow, especially during childhood. As Dr. George Jacob, a popular orthodontist in Sunnyvale, TX, points out, growing kids are most at risk for face and jaw changes, so getting help early is best.
Effects on facial development include:
- Long face: Keeping your mouth open causes the face to grow longer.
- Narrow palate: The upper jaw can stay narrow. This means not only a different facial look, but often crowded teeth.
- Alignment and bite issues: Teeth may become crowded or crooked and not line up right, leading to a poor bite.
- Speech struggles: The way the mouth grows can affect how kids speak.
- Dry mouth and sleep: Open-mouth sleepers may end up with dry mouth, more germs, and sleep issues such as snoring.
- Confidence issues: Changes in how the face or teeth look can impact how a child or adult feels about their smile or themselves.
During growth, these changes can become more pronounced, so early treatment is very important.
The Impact on Oral Health
Mouth breathing is not just an appearance problem. It can lead to dental and gum problems too. If you’re considering orthodontics or braces, understanding these effects is important for your treatment plan.
Key health risks include:
- Cavities and gum disease: Saliva helps keep the mouth clean. When you breathe through your mouth, the mouth dries out, leading to more bacteria and a greater risk of cavities or gum problems.
- Bad breath: Dry mouths are home to more bacteria, which also causes bad breath.
- Longer orthodontic treatment: Mouth breathing affects how teeth move. This can make treatments like braces or aligners take longer.
- Return of alignment issues: Even after orthodontic care, ongoing mouth breathing may lead teeth to shift again.
For best results, it’s important to tackle mouth breathing as part of total oral health and smile care.
Treatment Options for Mouth Breather Face in Charlotte, NC
The good news is that many treatment options exist. With help from Koerich Orthodontics, you can address both the causes and the visible effects for a healthier smile.
1. Fixing Nasal or Airway Problems
The first step is to clear any blockages in the nose or throat, often with the help of an ENT or allergy doctor. Treatments may include medications like allergy pills or nasal sprays, or surgery to remove swollen tonsils or fix a deviated septum if needed. Clearing the airway helps fix the main cause and supports normal face and jaw growth.
2. Airway Orthodontics & Expansion
Orthodontists offer devices for expansion of the maxilla and arch such as palatal expanders that create more tongue space, relieve crowding, and optimize airway health. Braces and aligners help with correction of misalignment, while customized plans ensure a solution suited to your unique arches and needs.
3. Myofunctional Therapy
Therapists teach exercises to retrain the tongue, cheeks, and mouth muscles. This therapy helps the lips stay closed and the tongue rest high in the mouth, encouraging healthy nose breathing. It works best for children but can also benefit adults.
4. Lifestyle and Habit Changes
Simple daily habits can make a big difference. Practice breathing through your nose, especially before bed. Keep good posture to keep the airway open. Reduce allergies by washing bedding and using air filters. Try to keep your lips closed when not eating or speaking, and limit screen time to avoid poor posture that can affect breathing.
When to Visit a Specialist
It’s not always easy to tell when mouth breathing is causing real trouble. Here are signs you should talk to Koerich Orthodontics or an ENT:
- Snoring or mouth breathing at night
- Fast-changing facial features or increasingly long and narrow faces in children
- Pronounced dental crowding or bite issues
- Speech delays
- Persistent dry mouth or bad breath
Early intervention is especially impactful for children, but adults also benefit from modern diagnosis and correction techniques.
Take Action to Protect Your Smile and Health
Mouth breathing might seem like a minor habit, but it can significantly affect your health and facial structure. The best results come from early attention and consistent check-ups. If you or your child are showing symptoms of mouth breather face, schedule an evaluation with Koerich Orthodontics in Charlotte, NC or consult a local ENT to assess airway issues. Taking action can lead to healthier breathing, improved jaw development, better bite alignment, and a more balanced, confident smile.
Book your consultation today to create a personalized treatment plan that protects your oral health, supports lifelong wellness, and helps you achieve a confident, healthy smile.
About the Authors
Dr. Leonardo Koerich – Orthodontist in Charlotte, NC
Dr. George Jacob – Orthodontist in Sunnyvale, TX
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to see a myofunctional therapist?
The cost of myofunctional therapy can vary depending on your location and the treatment plan you need. On average, sessions range from $100 to $250. Some therapists offer packages or sliding scale fees to make treatment more affordable. It’s also worth checking if your insurance covers part of the cost. Investing in myofunctional therapy can help address habits like mouth breathing, improve jaw development, and support facial structure and bite alignment.
Can myofunctional therapy change your face?
Yes! Myofunctional therapy can positively affect your facial structure over time. By strengthening the muscles of the face, mouth, and airway, this therapy can improve jaw development, bite alignment, and overall facial symmetry. It can also support better breathing and help correct habits like chronic mouth breathing. Many people notice subtle changes in their face, improved airway function, and a more balanced smile. Combined with orthodontics or other treatment options, myofunctional therapy can be part of a comprehensive plan for facial and oral health.
Who is a good candidate for myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is ideal for anyone with symptoms caused by poor oral or facial muscle habits. This includes mouth breathing, snoring, sleep apnea, misaligned teeth, or difficulty swallowing and speaking. Children, teens, and adults can all benefit. By targeting the causes of airway issues and promoting healthy jaw and facial development, this therapy can complement orthodontics or other treatments to improve bite, alignment, and overall facial structure.
