The V-shaped face, also known as the "small V-face," has become a sought-after feature among female celebrities due to its photogenic appeal, significantly influencing aesthetic preferences.
There are reasons behind society's preference for smaller faces. Dr. Hu Jingchao, a periodontist at Beijing Stomatological Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University and visiting scholar at Germany's University of Witten/Herdecke, explained to Life Times that dietary habits, climate, and social demands have driven the evolutionary trend toward "sharper, smaller" facial structures.Paul Higgins, Professor of Anatomy at New York University, noted in his writings that early humans possessed massive jawbones and chewing muscles to tear apart unprocessed food. Modern diets and industrialized societies have led to the continuous reduction of facial muscles and bones associated with chewing, resulting in progressively smaller human jawbones.
However, increasingly smaller faces bring significant health issues: the narrowing of the jaw results in crooked, misaligned teeth—leading to complications like malocclusion and impacted third molars (wisdom teeth).Statistics indicate that approximately 20% to 60% of adolescents worldwide currently suffer from malocclusion to varying degrees. This not only affects oral health but also adversely impacts physical development.
"Becoming less attractive and less intelligent": Particular vigilance is needed when children develop a "pointed face" during their developmental years.
During normal nasal breathing, the mouth remains closed with the tongue tip resting against the upper palate, guiding proper maxillary development. When breathing through the mouth, the palate loses tongue support and faces pressure from facial muscles, becoming narrower and more protruding. Consequently, upper teeth begin crowding and misaligning, leading to issues like maxillary/upper lip protrusion and buck teeth.The tongue sinks downward and backward between the lower teeth, creating an air passage for mouth breathing. Prolonged tongue pressure can also cause abnormal bite alignment of the front teeth when the mouth is closed. Additionally, mouth breathing increases strain on the lip muscles, potentially leading to long-term laxity and an inability for the upper and lower lips to close naturally.
A narrow jawbone reduces oral space, making the tongue prone to falling backward and blocking the airway during sleep. This increases the risk of sleep apnea, while sleep-related issues like apnea and snoring can impair children's brain development.Pediatrics, a professional journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has featured multiple studies indicating that children with sleep-related breathing disorders score an average of 12% lower academically than their peers. Infants and toddlers who habitually breathe through their mouths, snore, or suffer from sleep apnea may exhibit symptoms of ADHD, behavioral issues, and difficulties interacting with peers.
Increased injury risk: Artificial "V-shaped faces" carry a heightened risk of facial fractures.
A 2015 article in Biology Research analyzing the mandible of Australopithecus australis in the American South noted that evolutionary developments in the jawbone—particularly the thickened bone regions around the mandibular angle—effectively mitigate fracture risks from external forces. The human jaw contains multiple mechanical weak points prone to fracture during impact.The "V-shaped face" and slimming effects achieved through modern "jaw reduction" surgeries (mandibular angle osteotomy) necessitate vigilance against jaw fractures caused by improper stress distribution on the jawbone.
Medical research indicates that the gradual reduction in human facial size, particularly the jawbone, is an inevitable trend in industrialized societies.Hu Jingchao states that the most practical recommendation currently is to consciously stimulate mandibular movement and dental chewing during childhood maxillofacial development through dietary adjustments—such as reducing highly processed foods—and promptly correcting and treating harmful habits like mouth breathing and improper use of baby bottles and pacifiers. This promotes mandibular development and reduces the occurrence of malocclusion.If developmental or traumatic micrognathia (small jaw) or mandibular retrusion is detected, seeking dental professionals for orthodontic or orthognathic surgery to improve aesthetics is essential. Additionally, it is crucial to assess whether sleep apnea syndrome is present.