Nasal breathing

An ancient question of function and growth

The link between breathing and facial shape was not born on the Internet. Orthodontic research has long studied the association between nasal obstruction, mouth breathing and dentofacial development. A review from the early 1980s already discussed the idea of ​​a significant effect on growth, emphasizing the need to distinguish hypotheses from actually observed results.

Physiology provides other arguments

Nasal breathing does not only concern the jaws: it also concerns respiratory functions. The work of Lundberg and his colleagues has notably shown significant production of nitric oxide in the sinuses. This research gave a biological basis to an argument often repeated today, without this mechanism being sufficient to demonstrate all the promises of performance or appearance.

The return to the forefront with Breath

The book Breath by James Nestor, published in 2020, helped put breathing habits back at the center of mainstream discussions. It combines exploration of practices, encounters and experiences around breathing. This type of story makes a physiological subject accessible and arouses interest, but a popular book does not replace the evaluation of each benefit through studies.

From simple advice to viral promises

Social networks then circulated numerous breathing tips and mouth taping videos. Recent reviews examine precisely this gap between popularity and evidence. The useful point to maintain is a comfortable nasal habit at rest; Promises of transformation of the adult face or universal sleep treatment require specific proof, beyond the popularity of the practice.