Have you ever noticed your child’s lips staying slightly apart, even when they’re not talking or eating? Maybe they can close them, but only if they really try — or if you remind them to. That constant effort is called lip incompetence, and it’s one of the most overlooked signs of developing facial imbalance. It might not seem like a big deal, but lips that can’t rest together comfortably can quietly shape how a child’s entire face grows.
The Problem: When the Lips Can’t Relax Together
Lip incompetence isn’t about laziness or habit. It’s a muscle imbalance. The lips, especially the circular muscle around the mouth called the orbicularis oris, just aren’t strong or coordinated enough to stay sealed without strain. When that happens, the mouth hangs open. The tongue often drops down, the chin muscles overwork, and over time, the face begins to grow longer. Narrow jaws, crowded teeth, and even gummy smiles often follow. It’s not just about looks — this pattern changes how the entire oral system functions. Proper lip seal guides the tongue and jaw into positions that promote healthy breathing and balanced growth. When the lips stay apart, those cues are lost.
What the Research Shows
A 2024 study published in the Dental Research Journal explored how combining myofunctional therapy (lip exercises) with orthodontic treatment improved lip competence in children with open lips at rest. The researchers found that training the lips directly — strengthening the muscles responsible for closure — was highly effective in reducing the interlabial gap (the space between the lips when resting).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10899158
The takeaway is simple but powerful: when you strengthen the lips, you don’t just improve appearance — you influence the entire pattern of facial growth.
Why This Matters for Growing Faces
When a child’s lips are apart, their mouth posture affects everything from how their teeth align to how their jaws form. A persistent open-mouth posture encourages the lower face to lengthen and the upper teeth to show more, often leading to what’s called a “gummy smile.” On the other hand, when the lips rest together comfortably, they create gentle, constant pressure that helps guide the jaws inward and upward — supporting straight teeth, proper nasal breathing, and a balanced facial shape. Lip competence is like nature’s built-in retainer. It keeps everything working in harmony.
What You Can Do: Building Lip Strength Naturally
1. Focus on Gentle, Daily Resistance
The lips, like any muscle, respond to resistance training. But instead of weights, they need subtle, repeated pressure. That’s where Blossom Myofunctional Gum comes in. The dense, structured texture of the gum provides exactly the right level of challenge for the lips and facial muscles to work against, helping strengthen the orbicularis oris and restore natural lip seal.
2. Add Targeted Lip Exercises
The guided exercises that go along with Blossom teach children to maintain light lip closure, control facial tension, and breathe through their noses while chewing. This combination retrains both muscle tone and breathing coordination — making lip seal effortless rather than forced. Over time, the lips learn to stay closed on their own, the face begins to grow in balance, and the strain that once showed up in the chin or jaw starts to fade.
The Takeaway
Lip incompetence might look minor, but it’s a major clue to how a child’s face is developing. By strengthening the lips and restoring proper function, we’re not just helping them look better — we’re helping their airway, bite, and breathing patterns align with nature’s original plan.
Jordon Smith, DDS
“The more you know, the better they grow.”
