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