Is Mouth Breathing Affecting Your Face or Jaw?

When people think about breathing, they rarely consider how it might affect the shape of their face or the alignment of their jaw. But the truth is, the way we breathe, especially during early development, can have a lasting impact on oral structures, posture, and even facial appearance.

Mouth breathing is more than a habit. Over time, it can contribute to changes in facial growth, dental crowding, and jaw pain. For both children and adults, restoring nasal breathing and proper tongue posture is a powerful step toward improving overall health and balance in the face and jaw.

This post explores how chronic mouth breathing may influence facial development, what signs to look for, and how myofunctional therapy can help.

What Happens When We Breathe Through the Mouth?

The human body is designed to breathe through the nose. Nasal breathing supports proper oxygen exchange, filters the air, and engages the diaphragm more effectively. It also encourages the tongue to rest against the roof of the mouth, which plays a key role in shaping the palate and supporting jaw stability.

When someone breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, the tongue tends to fall low in the mouth. This shifts the pressure that would normally support the upper jaw and facial growth. As a result, the facial structure may adapt in ways that are less ideal.

In children, this can lead to:

• Long, narrow face development

• High, narrow palate (roof of the mouth)

• Crowded or misaligned teeth

• Forward head posture

• Open-lip resting position

In adults, chronic mouth breathing may result in:

• Jaw tension or discomfort

• Headaches or neck pain

• TMJ symptoms

• Facial fatigue or tightness

• Less defined jawline or changes in appearance over time

Even subtle changes in how the lips rest or the tongue moves during swallowing can influence muscle patterns and bone structure over the years.

Why Facial Growth Matters

Facial development is not just about aesthetics. It directly affects how well we breathe, sleep, speak, and eat. A high palate can narrow the nasal passages, making it even harder to breathe through the nose. A recessed jaw can impact airway space and contribute to snoring or sleep-disordered breathing.

Early intervention during childhood can help guide the growth of the face and jaw in a more balanced way. For adults, myofunctional therapy can help restore healthier patterns and reduce strain on the muscles involved in breathing, speaking, and chewing.

How Myofunctional Therapy Supports Change

Myofunctional therapy is a noninvasive approach that focuses on strengthening the muscles of the face, tongue, and airway. Through a series of guided exercises, clients learn to improve tongue posture, lip seal, and nasal breathing. These changes can help relieve tension in the jaw, improve facial symmetry, and support a healthier airway.

Therapy can also work alongside orthodontic treatment, tongue tie releases, or jaw pain interventions. For many clients, it brings awareness to habits they did not know were affecting their comfort or appearance.

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Mouth breathing might seem like a small thing, but over time, it can have a major effect on how the face and jaw develop and function. Whether you are noticing changes in your own jaw comfort or observing signs in your child, paying attention to breathing patterns is a worthwhile step.

In our Orange County practice, we work with both children and adults to retrain these patterns and support healthy facial function. If you are ready to explore how myofunctional therapy can help, we would love to connect.