A study of the habits of lip sealing of primary school children in the orthodontic clinic

Abstract

To determine details of the habits of lip sealing in primary school children in the orthodontic clinic, a questionnaire was administered and examination of the habits and the force of lip sealing was made. The investigated subjects were 33 primary school children (9 boys, 24 girls) (7-12 years old, average age 10.1 years old). The results were summarized as follows : 1. The questionnaire survey showed that 58% of the children did not commonly keep their lips sealed, 79% of children opened their lips when watching television. In addition, among the children who were examined by the otolaryngologist, 65% had nose complaint symptoms. 2. The observations of lip sealing showed that 52% of children opened their lips unconsciously within 3 minutes. In addition, conscious lip sealing for 3 minutes was achieved by 65% of the 17 children whose the lips opened unconsciously. Further, the lip sealing time extended when conscious. From this, it is suggested that the habits of lip sealing could be influenced by active awareness. 3. The mean of the force of lip sealing established was : 9.6N in the group with lip sealing for 3 minutes achieved unconsciously, 8.6N in the group whose lip sealing for 3 minutes was achieved with consciously, 7.1N in the group whose lip sealing for 3 minutes was not achieved even in the conscious condition. The results indicate that children who do not consciously seal the lips for 3 minutes and whose force of lip sealing is weak, could overcome the difficulties in the habit of lip sealing by otolaryngological treatment or myofunctional therapy.