Yes, sleeping with your mouth open, or chronic mouth breathing, can change your face shape. This is especially true during childhood and adolescence when facial bones and muscles are still developing.
How Mouth Breathing Affects Facial Structure
Chronic mouth breathing disrupts the natural development of the face. Several sources confirm this:
- Cleveland Clinic: States that mouth breathing "can change the structure of people's faces." https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22734-mouth-breathing
- Allure: Explains that mouth breathing during childhood can lead to a "long and narrow facial shape." https://www.allure.com/story/mouth-breather-face-shape
- Verywell Health: Notes that chronic mouth breathing can alter facial appearance due to anatomical changes. https://www.verywellhealth.com/mouth-breather-vs-nose-breather-7096261
- American Sinus: Highlights that nose breathing allows for normal facial development, implying mouth breathing hinders this process. https://www.americansinus.com/blog/does-mouth-breathing-change-the-shape-of-your-face
- A study published in PubMed Central: Indicates chronic mouth breathing causes morphological changes resulting in "adenoid facies." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7185155/
These changes can include:
- Narrower face: The upper jaw may not develop fully.
- Elongated face: The lower jaw might grow excessively.
- Changes in jaw position: Over time, an overbite or underbite may develop.
Why Does This Happen?
When breathing through the mouth, the tongue rests lower in the mouth, affecting jaw development. This improper positioning can lead to the changes described above.
Conclusion
While the severity of facial changes varies, it's clear that chronic mouth breathing, particularly during development, can alter facial structure. If you are concerned about mouth breathing, consult a healthcare professional.
