What is the best way to treat the problem that causes facial asymmetry?

What is facial asymmetry?

The term "facial asymmetry" refers to a condition in which the left and right proportion of the face bones or muscles are unbalanced or asymmetrical.

What are the reasons of facial asymmetry?

Facial asymmetry is unavoidable when walking upright. The surrounding muscles and neck must resist gravity and support the body's weight while keeping the heavy head from hanging to one side. As a result, when the muscular balance in one part of the body is disturbed, the balance around it is disrupted as well, and asymmetry of the face or body is revealed if this condition continues. Facial asymmetry is a disorder in which the balance of the body and face is disrupted due to the altered balance of power in the entire body, and the harmony of facial muscles can be restored by special therapy. It aims to find and loosen shortened muscles while also strengthening weak muscles.

• Forward head posture

Turtle neck syndrome is easily developed when you look at your phone or study while sitting with your neck hanging forward. As the center of the head moves forward, the positions of the sternocleidomastoid (a paired superficial muscle on the front of the neck) and jaw muscles around the neck change, resulting in facial asymmetry. Correcting the posture by standing straight and looking down 15 degrees is recommended.

• Chewing on one side

Facial asymmetry is also caused by habits such as thumb sucking, nail-biting, pencil biting, and chewing food on one side. The temporomandibular joint (the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull) is displaced if you use actively only one side of the temporalis and masseter muscles (muscle of chewing). So, let's kick those bad habits that can also lead to facial asymmetry.

• Mouth breathing 

Mouth breathing, a condition when someone from an early age breathes with their mouth open, can be caused by left and right asymmetry developed because of the protruded chin and temporomandibular joint disorder. Chronic rhinitis, adenoids, and tonsil hypertrophy also cause mouth breathing and make the temporalis and masseter muscles more active. Those changes affect the shape of the face and cause facial asymmetry. If you have similar symptoms do not ignore them and seek treatment.

Why do you have to treat facial asymmetry?

People with severe facial asymmetry avoid taking photos due to their appearance concerns and loss of confidence. The more important reason, though, is that facial asymmetry can be harmful to one's health. Because of the twisted jawbone, chewing on one side is likely to result in temporomandibular joint disorder.

Furthermore, if your face is still tilted to one side due to the compensatory action of body's maintenance system and psychological factors even when you are not reading or looking at your smartphone, this incorrect posture affects not only the neck but also the back and lumbar bones, therefore it's best to correct it as soon as possible, even if no symptoms are shown.

Facial asymmetry treatment

One of the techniques used for relaxing muscles and acupressure points is meridian massage. But although it can smooth out facial lines and improve skin tone, it can't fix bone disorders. Modni Oriental Clinic uses acupuncture to correct the facial bones' position and improve the balance of facial muscles. For more information, please refer to the link below.