Does mouth breathing make you ugly? Have you heard this claim?
Many people who hear this immediately blame mouth breathing for their perceived ugliness and try to change the habit.
Parents, upon discovering their child breathes through their mouth, often try to force their lips shut—they don't want their child to become ugly either.
Why does mouth breathing make you ugly? The prevailing view is that prolonged mouth breathing causes the hard palate to deform under airflow pressure, subsequently affecting facial development and ultimately resulting in what's known as "adenoid facies."
What exactly does adenoid facies look like? Let's examine a few sets of images:
Left:Boy at age 10;
Center & Right: Boy exhibiting "adenoid facies" at age 17 due to chronic mouth breathing.
Left: Sister at age 7 with mouth-breathing habit;
Right: Older sister at age 8 with mouth-breathing habit.
Left: Sister after orthodontic treatment several years later;
Right:The older sister's appearance years later without orthodontic treatment.
These two sets of images have circulated for a long time, deeply etched in many people's minds, even serving as a form of motivation.
However, does mouth breathing inevitably lead to adenoid facial features?
Does mouth breathing make you ugly, while closing your mouth makes you beautiful?
In reality, there is no standard answer to this question, but some studies have been conducted that raise doubts.
Study 1: Blocking monkeys' nostrils for a year caused multiple facial changes
In 1981, scientists captured 42 monkeys for an experiment. They divided the monkeys into two groups: one group had their nostrils blocked, forcing them to breathe through their mouths; the other served as the control group.
After one year, scientists observed no significant changes in the control group. However, the monkeys with blocked nostrils exhibited altered appearances, including misaligned teeth and "indentations" on the upper lip. Furthermore, the dental issues observed in the nostril-blocked monkeys varied widely and did not uniformly result in adenoid facial features.
Study Two: No Link Found Between Mouth Breathing and Facial Structure
Scientists recruited 119 adolescents, 50 of whom habitually breathed through their mouths, while the rest breathed through their noses.
The results showed no connection between mouth breathing and facial structure. The study also noted that if an individual has a genetic predisposition to long-face syndrome, mouth breathing could potentially lead to changes in facial structure.
Who Proposed the "Mouth Breathing Causes Ugly Faces" Theory?
Many believe the "mouth breathing makes you ugly" theory is a conspiracy within the medical field, largely because its "inventor" was an orthodontist.
British orthodontist John Mew developed the "Mewing Method," claiming this technique could alter facial structure.
However, the "mewing correction method" has not gained recognition from the mainstream academic community. Despite this, John Mew continues to organize various training courses to promote his brand. In 2010, to prevent the further spread of the "mewing correction method," John Mew's dental license was revoked.
Consider this: exploiting people's desire for beauty by inventing a "condition," then promoting your own therapy to make them pay for "beauty"—isn't this a form of commercial marketing?
Mouth breathing also poses risks! Be vigilant about abnormal breathing patterns!
A person's appearance is determined by genetics. It's not true that closing your mouth while breathing guarantees beauty, nor that breathing through your mouth inevitably leads to ugliness.Additionally, environmental factors influence facial features. Individuals raised in high-altitude, cold regions often develop more pronounced facial structures, while those in tropical climates may have flatter facial features.
Of course, this isn't an endorsement of mouth breathing. Since it poses health risks—such as causing thirst, dry mouth, bad breath, and hoarseness—any signs of mouth breathing should be actively corrected.
It's crucial to emphasize that "mouth breathing" and "abnormal breathing" are distinct concepts that should not be conflated. Conditions like enlarged tonsils, adenoid hypertrophy, or a receding jaw can lead to sleep apnea, which in turn causes mouth breathing. When such medical issues arise, timely treatment is essential.
In summary, mouth breathing is not a catastrophic threat. Beauty enthusiasts and parents need not be overly anxious. However, if you exhibit a preference for mouth breathing or suffer from oral, nasal, or throat disorders, timely correction and treatment are essential. After all, when it comes to breathing, the nose is the expert.