PUCKER up buttercup, and make a lip print that has now been shown to be as unique as our fingerprints. Lips come in so many different shapes and sizes and perform an amazing variety of functions way beyond the pleasure of kissing.
Lips are so important that they take part in two of the five of our first primitive reflexes as a baby. When a newborn's lips are touched it sets off the rooting and sucking reflexes that allow the baby to form a seal on the breast and aid in the pumping of the milk.
The lips are made up of a ring of muscle known as the orbicularis oris. This strong muscle plays a leading role in our smile and along with the tongue and cheek muscles, it helps guide the teeth into position.
The lips and cheeks act like outer bumpers for our teeth, holding them in their correct position which ideally is upright, not sticking out or sloping back too much.
The tongue pushes the other way holding the teeth out. Without the tongue, lip or cheek muscles our teeth would literally be all over the place.
At rest, our lips should be gently together exerting a continuous light force holding the teeth in place. If the lips hang apart at rest, they are termed 'incompetent lips'. The important seal has been lost, allowing the top teeth to escape and drift forward. This leaves a buck tooth smile and receding chin.
There are many reasons that our lips may not sit right. The number one priority of our bodies is to take in oxygen and our lips can only sit together forming a good seal if our noses are working properly. Any nose allergies or blockages mean that the lips must part in order to take a breath.
Slack lips can also occur if our tongue protrudes every time we swallow (a back-tongue swallow pattern is more ideal). Forward-swallowing tongues push the teeth forward and negatively alter how the upper and lower jaws grow.
So, if you or your children's lips are apart at rest or when sleeping, check for any breathing obstructions and try and make a conscious effort to close those lips for a good smile and jawline.
