Well Developed Jaw
When we refer to a well developed jaw, we typically mean one that is strong, properly aligned and aesthetically pleasing. However, we’ve come to understand that correct jaw development is crucial not just for visual attraction, but also for overall health including proper breathing, speech and dental function.
Undeveloped vs Developed jaw
When your upper jaw fails to grow fully, the weak mandible (lower jaw) is either pushed back into your neck or required to rise and protrude forward. Pair weak facial muscles and bones with incorrect tongue positioning and the result is an unnatural or undeveloped jaw, reducing full materialisation of your genetic potential. Not only is this sad news for your appearance, but your diminished upper jaw also reduces your nasal cavities capabilities to respirate properly, resulting in oral breathing.
Benefits of a well-developed jaw
When we refer to a well-developed jaw it means that it has grown properly and aligned correctly. Benefits when your jaw develops fully include:
- better breathing
- improved digestion
- better oral health
- facial symmetry
- reduced headaches and jaw pain
The largest benefit of your fully grown upper jaw is the breadth it offers your nasal passage, allowing for ample oxygenation, which produces additional health benefits to cellular health and skin.
Similarly, when you are aligned correctly and the muscles in your jaw are functioning properly, you can chew your food more effectively, leading to better nutrient absorption and overall gut health. A correctly developed jaw also promotes the production of saliva, which aids in digestion.
Which mouth do you have?
Imagine how different two faces can look depending upon whether they have a broad upper jaw. An undeveloped upper jaw sinks and narrows your eyes. Cheeks will flatten as they cave into the space that should be a wide oral cavity, and each millimetre of reduced maxillary bone reduces the width between your eyes positioning eye sockets closer to your nasal bridge instead of wide on your facial structure.
The good news is that we have non-invasive means to grow human jaws and faces to their full potential. For some, undoing dysfunctional breathing and retraining muscle habits with myofunctional therapy is sufficient to fulfil positive facial growth. For others, the assistance of orthodontic growth guidance appliances that can remodel their face skeletally without surgical intervention are the first step. Orthotropic practitioners already utilise an array of oral expansion devices that grow the internal structure of the jaws, pushing the facial framework out into a healthy and attractive position.
Note: It is important to note that identifying any oral breathing habits needs to take place before proceeding with any treatment to your jaws or teeth.
