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Lip and facial training improves lip-closing strength and facial morphology
Emi Inada1, Yasutaka Kaihara2, Yukiko Nogami3
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
Insights
Device-free lip and facial training significantly improved lip-closing strength (LCS) in preschool children. This training also corrected lip morphology in children with incompetent lip seal (ILS), preventing increased lip protrusion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric dentistry
- Orofacial myology
- Child development
Background:
- Childhood is critical for developing lip-closing strength (LCS).
- Insufficient LCS can lead to mouth breathing and other adverse health effects.
- Incompetent lip seal (ILS) is a common issue in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of device-free lip and facial training in preschool children.
- To assess the impact of training on LCS and facial morphology.
- To specifically examine outcomes in children with ILS.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year study involving 123 children aged 3-4 years, divided into training and control groups.
- The training group performed daily lip and facial exercises.
- Statistical analysis included repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests to compare changes in LCS and facial measurements between groups and within the ILS subgroup.
Main Results:
- Children in the training group showed significant improvements in LCS compared to the control group.
- Lip and facial training reduced lip protrusion in children with ILS.
- Children with ILS who did not receive training experienced increased lip protrusion over the year.
Conclusions:
- Device-free lip and facial training is effective in enhancing LCS in preschool children.
- The training improved lip morphology and prevented increased lip protrusion in children with ILS.
- This intervention offers a non-invasive approach to address orofacial dysfunction in early childhood.
Objective:
Childhood is an important period for lip-closing strength (LCS) development, and failure to acquire LCS during childhood leads to various adverse health effects, such as mouth breathing. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of device-free lip and facial training in preschool children.
Design:
The participants were divided into training and control groups. Both groups comprised 123 children aged 3-4 years, and only the training group received lip and facial training (i.e., opening and closing the lips and protruding the tongue) for 1 year. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to compare the interaction effects of LCS and facial linear distance and angle by year (initial year vs. 1 year later) and group (training vs. control group). In addition, paired t-tests were used to test the changes in LCS and facial linear distance and angle after 1 year in both groups. Furthermore, the same analysis was performed in children with weak LCS in both groups (incompetent lip seal [ILS]).
Results:
The LCS of children in the training group significantly increased after training compared with that in the control group, whether the analysis included all children or children with ILS alone. Lip and facial training for children with ILS reduced both the upper and lower lip protrusion; children with ILS without training had increased lip protrusion after 1 year.
Conclusions:
Lip and facial training for children with ILS effectively improved LCS and lip morphology, thereby preventing increased lip protrusion.
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