Proper Facial Growth
Development of the muscles, bones, and teeth is a complex process in which function influences growth that creates form, which intern influences function. In an optimal system the natural demands you put on your jaw will cause the jaw to develop into a system that is capable of performing all the demands in a healthy way. However, if your muscles aren’t functioning optimally they can influence the development of your teeth, jaws, and other structures that may lead to problems such as crooked teeth, obstructed airway, jaw clenching, painful muscles, and/or other problems.
Having an open mouth posture is a sign of mouth breathing. This can be a sign of an inability to breathe through the nose. When the mouth is continually open, the facial muscles develop and then adapt and function improperly around this abnormal posture.
And open mouth posture can lead to flattened features, narrow and vaulted palate,
elevated nostrils, a long narrow shape to the face, a short upper lip, a gummy smile, a small lower jaw and sleepy and droopy eyes. It is important to realize a child with an open mouth will grow into an adult with these features. In a child, these symptoms can be avoided through myofunctional therapy with great success. The younger the child starts therapy the better. In an adult, myofunctional therapy can still be very successful although the features cannot change as drastically as in children. However, a clear difference can be seen once normal rest position and function are achieved.