Facial asymmetry is a common problem, however the degree of asymmetry can vary between individuals. Each person has their own unique facial shape, and recognizing facial asymmetry is not always easy. In severe cases of facial asymmetry, early intervention is necessary to avoid future problems. Let’s learn about the causes of facial asymmetry and effective ways to fix facial asymmetry with BIK International Dental Clinic.
Causes of facial asymmetry
There are many reasons for facial asymmetry, one side is higher than the other, including:
Congenital
There are people who have had a distorted, uneven face since birth. The main cause is genetics from family members such as grandparents and parents. If the face is only slightly asymmetrical, it does not affect much, but when the face is severely asymmetrical, not only the aesthetics but also the overall appearance of the face are affected. Even if there are other beautiful facial features, it is difficult to correct this condition.
Jawbone
During puberty, the jawbone structure can change, in some cases it does not develop evenly as usual but can deviate. For example, the upper or lower jawbone can become longer and wider, changing the natural structure of the face and causing uneven jawbone development.
Bad living habits
Chewing on one side of the jaw: Many people have the habit of chewing on only one side, when eating they often move food to that side to chew. Using only one side of the jaw for a long time will create an imbalance between the two jaws, causing the bite to be misaligned. Therefore, the face will become uneven, skewed towards the jaw that is frequently used.
Sleeping on one side: The best position to sleep is lying on your back, but if you often lie on one side, it is okay. However, if you always lie on one side, it will affect your face and make it slightly skewed.
Stroke due to late bathing
Many people experience this condition because of the habit of bathing and washing their hair at midnight (after 11 o’clock). After a tiring day at work, the body is not healthy and is susceptible to stroke. If not detected and treated promptly, it can cause facial distortion or even death.
Impact due to disease
There are a number of dangerous diseases that can affect the nerves on the face, causing muscle contraction and causing the face to skew to one side. The cause of this imbalance often occurs in the elderly, people with poor health, or strokes that cause crooked mouths.
Due to accidents
There are many cases of accidents that affect the jaw bone, leading to broken and misaligned bone structures. In severe cases, the doctor may have to perform surgery to remove part of the bone or muscle on the face to ensure the patient’s safety, leading to the face becoming asymmetrical and not more beautiful.
Complications of cosmetic surgery
Currently, cosmetic surgery is becoming a popular choice because it helps to overcome facial defects and create overall balance.
However, because many people still tend to choose cheap prices, choose unreliable surgical facilities or unqualified doctors, leading to poor surgical results, causing many complications including facial asymmetry after surgery.
Any major surgical method such as face contouring, jaw surgery, cheekbone augmentation… or non-surgical cosmetic methods can cause facial asymmetry if not performed by a doctor with sufficient skills and experience.
How to recognize facial asymmetry
Facial asymmetry is a condition in which the facial features are not balanced or even across the midline of the bridge of the nose. The most noticeable symptoms of this condition include:
- High-side-low face: The face is tilted to the left or right, causing the lips and chin to move to one side. This creates a lack of symmetry between the two sides of the face, creating a condition where one side is higher than the other.
- Asymmetrical jawbones: The upper jawbone of the face can move to the left or right, pushing back or pushing forward. This not only affects beauty but also makes it difficult to perform daily chewing functions.
- Asymmetrical lips when smiling: When smiling, the lips can be skewed to one side, creating unevenness and imbalance for the entire face.
In some cases, the asymmetrical face condition can be so severe that it can be recognized at a glance.
Consequences of facial asymmetry
Here are 4 serious oral health consequences that can arise from facial asymmetry such as:
Facial asymmetry causes jaw muscle asymmetry
If you only move one side of your jaw for a long time, your jaw muscles will be asymmetry. The other side of your jaw will contract due to lack of movement. This can make your face uneven and deformed with one side larger than the other.
Facial asymmetry increases tooth wear
When one side of your face is asymmetry, it will affect the teeth on that side. This makes the teeth weaker, when they are active, they have to work harder, leading to more wear than normal. At that time, the enamel will be damaged quickly, easily leading to dental problems such as tooth decay or pulpitis.
Asymmetrical face reduces the ability to digest
The lack of teeth on one side will lead to food not being ground thoroughly before being swallowed into the stomach. This can weaken the digestive system and cause problems such as stomach pain.
Asymmetrical chin, asymmetrical face causes temporomandibular joint disorder
If you often chew on one side, the temporomandibular joint will be worn down and uneven on both sides. Over time, this can lead to a misaligned bite, causing the sound of bones colliding in the temporomandibular joint to cause disorder.
How to fix facial asymmetry
You can refer to the ways to fix facial asymmetry below to apply to yourself. To know which method is suitable for you, you should visit a reputable facility to get advice from a doctor to ensure that you apply a safe and effective method to correct facial asymmetry.
Makeup
In cases of mild facial asymmetry, you can use contouring makeup and appropriate hairstyles to make your face more balanced. However, remember that this is only a temporary measure and is not a solution for severe facial asymmetry.
Facial massage
In cases of facial asymmetry due to pathology, usually due to muscle contraction, massage and acupressure can be applied for treatment. This process needs to be performed by a therapist over a long period of time, you need to patiently follow the treatment plan.
Change your habits
Get into the habit of chewing evenly on both sides of your jaw to keep your bite balanced. At first, this may cause discomfort or damage to your mouth.
However, start chewing slowly and gradually increase the difficulty. When chewing, use both sides of your jaw in equal proportions or at least 2/3, 1/3 compared to the stronger side. After a month, you will get used to it and be able to chew evenly on both sides.
Avoid sleeping on your side or resting your chin on one side. Instead, try to sleep sitting up. If you have to lie on your side, choose to lie on both sides. Changing your habits can be difficult at first, but if you stick with it, you will easily adapt in a short time.
Mewing Practice
Mewing (Correct Tongue Posture) is a method to improve facial structure by placing the tongue in the correct position on the roof of the mouth. This method can be done as follows:
- Slowly close your lips.
- Push your lower jaw back so that it is always behind your upper jaw and maintains a moderate distance between the two jaws.
- Place your entire tongue on the upper roof of your mouth, making sure it is always relaxed. The tip of the tongue is behind the gums of the front teeth, avoiding hitting the front teeth of the upper jaw.
By using pressure from the tongue, this method helps to adjust and reshape the teeth. This improves bone structure and changes the shape of the lower jaw line aesthetically without the need for surgery.
Using shaping tape
This approach is chosen by many people to treat asymmetrical face at home. This method affects the facial muscles and jawbones, helping the face become more balanced and harmonious.
However, to achieve the best results, you need to be persistent and do it regularly for a long period of time.
Interventional procedures
Botox injection: In cases where the face is asymmetrical due to hypertrophied muscles, botox injections can reduce muscle size, creating a slimmer and more toned feeling for the face.
Filler injection: In cases where one side of the face has defects such as sunken cheeks, drooping eyebrows, deep nasolabial folds, filler injections help adjust the shape and improve the defects on the face.
Note that it should be prescribed and performed by a specialist at the hospital, with the support of an experienced technician to minimize risks and complications.
Jaw surgery
If the face is asymmetrical due to the jawbone structure, you will need surgery to correct this problem and restore balance. This is considered the best method today with high efficiency.
Braces
Uneven teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned teeth are common causes of facial asymmetry. In this case, your dentist will often recommend that you have cosmetic braces to correct the problem.
The cosmetic braces method is performed by using braces to apply force to the teeth, helping to move them to the correct position on the jaw. After the braces process is completed, not only will the teeth be beautiful and have a standard bite, but the face will also become more balanced and harmonious.
However, braces are a complex technique that requires doctors to have high expertise and experience to perform successfully. Therefore, when you want to have braces to correct facial asymmetry, you should go to reputable dental facilities with a team of highly skilled and dedicated doctors such as BIK International Dental Clinic to ensure the best results.
Above is detailed information about the causes and how to correct facial asymmetry. You can refer to and learn more about the specific treatment methods mentioned. This helps improve the jawbone structure for a more balanced and harmonious face. If you have any questions, please contact BIK International Dental Clinic via hotline 19008015
