Effects of mouth breathing on orofacial muscles of children & adolescents
In order to breathe through mouth, lips and mouth need to be kept open leading to alteration in the orofacial muscle activities. Normally, there is a balance of muscle forces from inside (tongue) and outside (lips and cheeks). Mouth breathing habit alters this balance by
- Open mouth posture
- Altered tongue position
- Altered tonicity and activity of lips and chin
- Weak chewing muscles
These changes can not only affect the structures of face & jaws but also airway, posture and arrangement of teeth.
