Presentation of a paper reviewing the effects of oral breathing on craniofacial form and head posture.
Mouth breathing is an important functional factor that goes beyond a simple lifestyle habit and can affect facial form, jaw growth, and head and neck posture. This study systematically analyzed 11 domestic and international prior studies to comprehensively review the effects of mouth breathing on craniofacial form and head posture. As a result, it was confirmed that mouth breathers, compared to nasal breathers, tend to have longer faces, have the maxilla and mandible positioned posteriorly, and exhibit characteristic facial changes such as jaw rotation and hyoid bone position changes. On the other hand, a direct causal relationship with head posture changes was only statistically significant in some studies, raising the need for further research.
