Guide Mouth Megaguide (3 Viewers)

[antifoidaction]

MOUTH MEGAGUIDE

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Table of Contents

1. Why the Mouth Matters for Aesthetics
2. Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure
3. Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening
4. Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry
5. Surgical Options
6. Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health
7. Breath & the Oral Microbiome
8. Daily Oral Care Protocol
9. References

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Spoiler: JEWPT'D TLDR

TLDR — Quick Reference​

Your mouth affects your whole face: teeth position supports lips, palate width shapes the midface, bite affects jawline, and breath matters socially.

• Mewing: good for nasal breathing + tongue posture habits, but no solid evidence it remodels adult bone. Treat it as a low-risk habit, not a transformation hack.
• Palate expansion:
  • Kids/teens: RPE works best before the suture fuses (roughly late teens).
  • Adults: MARPE/MSE can create real skeletal expansion; success drops with age, especially ~30+.
  • If MARPE isn't enough: SARPE is the surgical option for reliable adult expansion.
• Masseters: chewing harder gum can grow them, but overdoing it can cause jaw issues/asymmetry.
• Bite matters: Class II/III issues are often skeletal; orthodontics can help mild cases, surgery for severe discrepancies.
• Whitening: strongest results from professional or custom trays; strips work but slower; toothpastes mostly remove surface stains. Avoid abrasive/acid DIY methods.
• Smile aesthetics isn't just color: tooth shape/ratio, symmetry, and gum line matter. Options: contouring, bonding, gum treatments.
• Cosmetic dentistry: veneers can look amazing but are often irreversible (enamel removal). Get a digital mockup and pay for quality.
• Straight teeth are non-negotiable: braces/Invisalign/lingual all work depending on severity and budget.
• Big surgeries:
  • Jaw surgery (orthognathic) for real skeletal problems (largest aesthetic/functional impact).
  • Genioplasty reshapes/advances the chin; implants add projection but are less "complete."
  • Masseter Botox slims the lower face temporarily and helps grinding.
• Cavity prevention:cavities are bacterial acid damage; early damage can be reversed.
  • Fluoride = gold standard (don't rinse after brushing).
  • Hydroxyapatite is a strong alternative for some people.
  • Xylitol helps reduce cavity bacteria (dose matters).
  • CPP-ACP can help remineralization, especially if high-risk/dry mouth/after whitening.
• Protect enamel: don't brush right after acidic food/drink; treat reflux; grinding wrecks teeth — get a night guard.
• Bad breath:usually from the mouth, especially tongue coating + gum pockets + decay/tonsil stones.
  • Tongue scraping is #1 daily habit.
  • Don't overuse harsh antiseptic mouthwash — can disrupt the oral microbiome (and nitrate/NO pathway).
  • Better options: chlorine dioxide rinses, sometimes CPC, plus BLIS K12 probiotic as support.
• Daily protocol:
  • AM: scrape tongue → rinse → floss/water floss → brush (don't rinse) → xylitol after eating.
  • PM: floss → brush → scrape → CPP-ACP if needed → BLIS K12 last.

Spoiler: 1. Why the Mouth Matters for Aesthetics

Why the Mouth Matters

The mouth is one of the most analyzed features during face-to-face interaction. Its aesthetics affect:

• Facial thirds balance — the lower third is influenced heavily by dental structure, jaw development, and lip support.
• Lip projection & fullness — retracted teeth = thin looking flat lips; the position of your teeth pushes your lips outwards.
• Smile aesthetics — teeth color, gum line, dental symmetry, and gum line all help your perceived attractiveness.
• Jawline definition — bite, palate width, and masseter size change your mandibular angle.
• Scent — breath is an important social signal, makes you more attractive.

Spoiler: 2. Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure

Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure

Why This Matters
Crowded teeth, underdeveloped midface, mouth breathing, and a less defined jaw are all symptoms of a narrow palate. Palate width is one of the most important features of facial aesthetics.

Mewing
Everyone knows what mewing is but I'll explain anyway: resting the entire flat of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, teeth together, and breathing through your nose with your mouth closed.

The science is unclear and effects are anecdotal. Current peer-reviewed literature does not support the idea that mewing can cause skeletal remodeling in adults [1][2]. Tongue posture alone cannot generate the force/pressure needed for actual bone remodeling [2]. Tongue posture can correlate with craniofacial development in children but it is not the primary driver and no study has established causation from mewing alone. Research shows that while tongue posture does correlate with craniofacial development in children, it appears to be one of many variables rather than a primary driver, and no longitudinal study has established causation from tongue posture alone [3].

What the evidence does support for mewing-adjacent concepts:

• Nose breathing and mewing are provably beneficial for breathing, swallowing, and mouth health [1][7].
• RPE in children leads to high tongue posture and the possibility of mewing and palate width being bidirectional is real [7].
• Wolff's law is true but there is no RCT that proves tongue pressure can cause the pressure needed for adult bone remodeling.

The Truth: Mewing as a nose breathing, tongue posture, and swallowing aid is real but actual bone remodeling in adults is supported by nothing; it should be treated as a low-risk habit rather than a substitute for surgery — but this is obvious. Any TikToker who claims mewing can remodel your face is lying.

Palate Expansion Without Surgery
Used to physically widen the upper palate in children and adolescents:

• Hyrax / Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) — bonded to your upper molars and turned daily for expansion; creates a gap in the mid-palatal suture that fills with bone over time.
• Best time: before your mid-palatal suture begins to fuse, 17–18; after fusion the effects of RPE drop quickly.

MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion)
For adults whose suture has started ossifying. Miniscrews are drilled into the palate to avoid resistance and anchor the expander directly to the bone.

Strong supported research. A mean success rate of 92.5% in adults and late adolescents, with significant increases to skeletal structure [4]. MARPE has much better suture expansion with fewer complications compared with RPE in adults [5]. 94.1% success rate with mean expansion of 6.56mm at first molars [6]. Age is important — most people over 30 see little success because of late-stage suture ossification; success rate is sometimes less than 20% [19]. In addition, some studies show a 10–30% increase in nasal cavity volume [18].

MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expander)
Much more aggressive variant of MARPE; uses 4 screws targeting all cortical layers, used mostly for maximum airway improvement. Can expand posteriorly toward the nasal cavity.

Chewing & Masseter Development
Chewing hard hypertrophies the masseter.

Mastic gum — significantly harder than regular gum; developed masseters produce a more defined lower jaw. Do not overdo it — could strain your jaw or cause asymmetry.

Bite Classes & Occlusion

• Class I (ideal): upper teeth slightly over lower teeth.
• Class II (overbite/overjet): often the cause of weak chin; upper jaw is forward; common in mouth breathers.
• Class III (underbite): protruding lower jaw.

Bite class is mostly skeletal; some orthodontics can compensate for small issues but surgery is needed for severe cases.

Spoiler: 3. Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening

Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening

Tooth Color
Natural tooth color ranges from A1 (light yellow-white) to D4 (dark gray-brown). Most are in the A2–A3 range. Many whiten to get B1 but personally I think this looks unnatural.

What determines tooth color:

• Enamel thickness — your enamel thins with age; thinner enamel exposes the yellowish dentin beneath your enamel.
• Dentin color — genetics; darkens over time.
• Extrinsic stains — coffee, tea, wine, tobacco; sit on top of the enamel; easy to remove.
• Intrinsic stains — embedded in the tooth structure; whitening may not fully remove them.

Whitening Methods by Effectiveness

1. Professional Whitening

• Zoom / Philips: light-activated 35% hydrogen peroxide; results in 1–2 hours.
• Opalescence Boost: high-concentration chemically activated gel; no light needed.
• Can whiten 6–10 shades in a single session.
• Cost: $300–$1,000 depending on practice and location.
• Pre-treat with desensitizing toothpaste — I recommend potassium nitrate or Sensodyne Pronamel for about 2 weeks beforehand to reduce tooth sensitivity.

2. Custom Take-Home Trays

• Dentist-made trays and carbamide peroxide gel put on for 30 min/day.
• Results take 1–3 weeks but are much less sensitive.
• Cost: $100–$400 for the trays + gel.

3. Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips

• Whitening strips is the best over-the-counter option; aim for 10% hydrogen peroxide.
• After 20 days, maybe 3–4 shade change but does not cover back teeth as well.

4. Whitening Toothpastes

• Works via removing surface stains.
• Some toothpastes visibly change color almost instantly but it doesn't have any permanent change; good for maintenance.

⚠ Use at Your Own Risk

• Charcoal toothpaste — extremely abrasive and will ruin your enamel; not recommended by ANY dentist.
• Lemon juice scrubs — ruins enamel integrity.
• Over-whitening — will destroy your enamel and make your teeth blue at the edge; know when to stop.

Tooth Shape & Contour
Beyond color, proportion matters:

• Dental contouring: grinds your teeth with fine discs/burs to reshape teeth; fix chips or sharp canines; can be used to fix asymmetries. $150, no anesthesia required.
• Dental bonding: resin applied to close gaps, fix chips, or change shape. $200 per tooth; lasts 6 years.
• Ideal width-to-height ratio for central incisors is around 75–80%.

Gum Aesthetics

• Gum line symmetry — uneven gums can make your smile look weird even if your teeth are perfectly white.
• Gummy smile — too much gums can also be a problem; corrected via laser gum treatment or Botox in the upper lip elevator muscles.
• Gum recession — no gums; makes your teeth look extremely long; can be treated with gum grafting.

Spoiler: 4. Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry

Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry

Porcelain Veneers
Thin porcelain shells attached to the front of the teeth — the "best" cosmetic dental procedure besides implants or surgery.

What they fix:

• Very bad discoloration; intrinsic stains that whitening can't fix.
• Fucked up teeth — British people love veneers.
• Crowding for mild cases.

Types:

• Traditional veneers: 0.5–0.7mm of enamel must be removed. This will never go away or regrow; you will always require a cover for your teeth.
• Lumineers: little to no enamel removal. Only suitable in limited cases; usually looks bulky on normal-sized teeth.
• Ultra-thin veneers (DURAthin): ~0.2mm of enamel must be removed; minimal prep. Better aesthetics than Lumineers.

What to know for aesthetics/lifetime:

• Please get a digital mock-up before getting veneers. If your dentist refuses, go to someone else — this is a life-changing procedure and you cannot go back.
• Veneer shape is customizable; know what you want before going.
• Spend the money to get nice veneers — "chiclet" veneers look like shit.
• Cost: $1,000–$2,500 per tooth. A full upper set of 8–10 is $10,000–$25,000; this can be more or less. If you're not willing to spend the money to get GOOD veneers just don't get them — a shitty set will ruin your life.
• Lifespan: 10–20 years if you take care of them.

Composite Veneers

• Resin applied directly by dentist.
• Cost: $250–$1,500 per tooth.
• Lifespan: 5–7 years but much more prone to damage and stains.
• If you're thinking of veneers, try these first and see if you like it.

Dental Bonding

• Targeted resin repairs for chips, gaps, or other damage.
• $100–$400 per tooth; reversible; also very fast.

Dental Implants

• Great for missing teeth; a titanium screw is screwed into the jaw and a crown is placed in.
• The best-looking replacement for missing teeth; also very functional.
• Cost: $3,000–$6,000 per implant including the crown; may need a bone graft if the tooth has been missing for a long time.

Orthodontics
Straight teeth is absolutely a must — fucked up teeth completely ruins your face.

• Traditional metal braces: tried and true; will fix your teeth; there are other side effects. $3,000–$7,000.
• Ceramic braces: same as metal; same price.
• Invisalign / clear aligners: best for mildly messed up mouth; it's important that you use it. $3,000–$8,000.
• Lingual braces: want to fix your teeth and not tell anyone? This is your best friend; will give you a lisp at the start. $8,000–$13,000.

Spoiler: 5. Surgical Options

Surgical Options

Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery)
By far the most important facial aesthetic surgery when there is actual skeletal discrepancy; moves the mandible and/or the maxilla.

All credit for this goes to Synapzyzz

Le Fort 1: It's done by performing a horizontal cut above the teeth, separating the upper jaw from the rest of the face. It's very commonly used to fix malocclusions such as an underbite or open bite and it's a very common procedure in jaw surgery.

The advancement obtained is measured in mm, and the advancement needed — like with the majority of these surgeries — is case dependent, but the best results are usually from 3–8mm. Larger advancement (8–10mm) can be a bit less stable and carry a more significant relapse risk.

Risk category overall: Low to moderate.

Infection Risk: Low. According to this PubMed study, out of the 512 patients screened, 41 patients (around 8%) were diagnosed with a surgical site infection.
Study

Botch Risk: Low. A PubMed study about complications during orthognathic surgery found that the number of overall complication rates (minor + major): 6–15%; however, the number of serious complications is significantly lower than the total rate.
Study

Relapse Risk: Low to moderate (depends highly on the type of fixing plates used). According to two PubMed studies, measurable relapse can occur around 10–25%; however this relapse is usually of around 1–2mm.
Study 1 | Study 2

Recovery time: Around 9–12 months for full bone remodeling and fusion, although the worst swelling starts to fade around 2 weeks post-op, and tends to fully go 6–8 months post-op.

Price:

• Worldwide: $8,000–$25,000
• USA: $18,000–$35,000 (hospital + anesthesia + surgeon fees)

SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion)
For adults that need expansion that MARPE cannot achieve reliably. The surgeon makes osteotomy cuts in the lateral walls of the maxilla; an expansion device is then placed and activated post-surgery. Provides much wider skeletal expansion than MARPE — 3.3mm average with SARPE vs. 2.3mm for MARPE [4]. Recovery is quick.

Genioplasty (Chin Surgery)
Again, credit to Synapzyzz for this.

It involves the cutting of the chin/mental bone to reposition it; sliding genio focuses more on altering the chin shape with 2 precision cuts and also changing the projection; it can also vertically lengthen the chin.

Typical advancement ranges from 5–8mm, but 8–10 can be stable too.

Risk category overall: Low to moderate.

Infection risk: Reported infection rate sits low at around 1–5%; mandibular surgeries sit at around 7.4% but genio sits lower.
Study

Botch risk: Low, as the complications are usually easily fixable — being numbness and hematomas; overall rate sits at around 8%.

Relapse risk: I did not find any study providing info for this one, but it seems to be super rare. A small drift is possible but real relapse is so weird that we don't have ranges or rates for it.

Recovery time: Full bone fusion as usual takes around 9–12 months; total swelling tends to disappear around 3–6 months post-op.

Price:

• Worldwide: $5,000–$12,000+
• USA: $6,000–$15,000

Chin Implants
Implant placed through incision under the chin or in the mouth. Can add projection and/or width — "worse" than genioplasty; cannot correct asymmetry or vertical height. See @synapzz's surgery guide for better info on implants.

Masseter Botox
Injecting Botox into your masseter to atrophy your muscle over 2–4 months; for creating a slimmer, V-shaped lower face. Can also help bruxism. Only lasts 4–6 months but effects may last longer with repeated treatments. $600–$1,500.

Gum Surgery

• Crown lengthening / gum contouring: for removing excess gum tissue and exposing more tooth structure or creating a more even gum line.
• Gum grafting (connective tissue graft): tissue taken from palate and grafted into areas of gum recession; good for aesthetics and root exposure.
• Frenectomy: removes the frenum when it's causing a tooth gap.

Spoiler: 6. Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health

Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health

Understanding Cavities (this is important)

Cavities form when acid-producing bacteria — mostly Streptococcus mutans — metabolize fermentable sugars and produce acid that demineralizes enamel. This is a reversible process if you catch it early [8].

Stages:

1. White spot lesion — subsurface enamel demineralized but surface intact; reversible with remineralization.
2. Enamel cavity — breakdown of surface; may still be reversible if caught early.
3. Dentin cavity — reached dentin layer; requires a filling.
4. Pulp involvement — root canal needed; this will hurt.

How to Remineralize

Fluoride — the best way to avoid cavities. Hundreds of studies prove that it is the best way to fix/prevent cavities. It is the most evidence-based cavity prevention tool in existence. Fluoride consistently prevents and treats cavities across all delivery forms through remineralization of enamel, demineralization inhibition, and antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans [8][9].

• How it works: Fluoride incorporates into enamel as fluorapatite, which is more acid-resistant than the natural hydroxyapatite. It also inhibits bacterial glycolysis (how acid is produced) and has direct bactericidal effects at low pH [9][10].
• Do NOT rinse after brushing: spit only after brushing, as leaving the fluoride film on teeth magnifies the protective benefits.
• High-fluoride toothpaste (5000 ppm, e.g., Prevident 5000): only prescribed for high-cavity-risk individuals and early white spot lesions; used daily instead of regular toothpaste.
• Regular fluoride toothpaste (1000–1500 ppm): adequate for most people with twice-daily use; recommended is 1000–1500 ppm for all ages [10].

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a biomimetic remineralizer — it has the same chemical composition of natural enamel and integrates with the natural tooth structure [11].

HAp-containing toothpaste produces enamel remineralization comparable to fluoride at equivalent concentrations [11][12][13]. HAp is a viable fluoride alternative for cavity prevention [14]. In adults there is no significant difference in cavity-prevention efficacy between HAp and 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste [15]. Results are not entirely uniform — one study found a specific HAp toothpaste inferior to a fluoride toothpaste under high-acid conditions [16]; pick your toothpaste carefully and get a dentist recommendation. HAp has the additional advantages of not being toxic when inevitably swallowed, no risk of fluorosis, and it does not disrupt the oral microbiome. HAp also shows evidence of reducing dentinal hypersensitivity at a greater level compared to standard fluoride toothpaste [13].

Xylitol is a 5-carbon sugar alcohol that Streptococcus mutans cannot metabolize. Instead, bacteria transport it into the cell, where it is converted to xylitol-5-phosphate — a compound that is toxic to the bacteria, essentially starving them [17][18].

• Studies show xylitol produces a significant reduction in DMFS scores versus controls [17].
• Plaque Streptococcus mutans levels were 10x lower than baseline at 5 weeks and 6 months in groups consuming 6.88g/day of xylitol with no further benefit above 6.88g/day [18].
• Xylitol gum significantly reduces Streptococcus mutans counts in 12 of 14 comparisons [20].
• Recommended dose: 6–10g/day.
• Bacterial resistance: some strains of Streptococcus mutans can develop a resistance to xylitol so it should not be your only treatment.

CPP-ACP (GC MI Paste) — Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate applies calcium and phosphate ions onto the tooth surface directly; applied after brushing WITHOUT rinsing off. Very valuable post-whitening when your enamel is more porous, or if you have a dry mouth.

Enamel Preservation
Erosion from acid is a significant part of enamel damage.

• Sources: citrus, carbonated drinks, vinegar, acid reflux, and frequent vomiting.
• Do not brush immediately after consuming acidic food or drink — enamel is temporarily softened and brushing at this moment causes net mineral loss. Wait 30–60 minutes, or rinse with water or a dilute baking soda solution first.
• If you have GERD, see a doctor immediately and get a recommendation for treatment, as the chronic acid exposure will ruin your enamel from the lingual surface up.

Bruxism / Teeth Grinding
Accelerates enamel breakdown greatly; most grind their teeth at night.

• Signs: flattened/worn incisal edges, jaw soreness when waking up, teeth chipping.
• Solutions: see a dentist ASAP and get a custom night guard to avoid teeth shifting. Products like OTC boil-and-bite if unavailable. Take magnesium as some anecdotal evidence exists for reducing grinding frequency. Masseter Botox also helps.

Spoiler: 7. Breath & the Oral Microbiome

Breath & the Oral Microbiome

Why You Have Bad Breath

Most bad breath originates in the oral cavity [21][22][23]. The main causes are volatile sulfur compounds — hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide — which make up almost 90% of intraoral VSCs [21][23]. VSCs are produced when anaerobic bacteria break down amino acids that contain sulfur from dead cells, debris, saliva, and blood [21][23].

Where VSCs are produced:

1. Tongue dorsum is the number one source of VSCs. The posterior tongue is rough, papillated, and creates anaerobic crypts ideal for sulfur-producing bacteria. Research shows that tongue coating is the primary reason for inducing bad breath [22][23][24].
2. Bacteria below your gums in pockets next to the root between the gum and the tooth is also a major factor (periodontal pockets). People with periodontitis show 30% higher VSC values than those without [25]. Pathogens include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia [21][22].
3. Cavities and tooth decay.
4. Tonsil stones are another major VSC producer. If you have tonsil stones, see a dentist.

Tongue Scraping
The most impactful daily practice for breath. Studies confirm that tongue coating is the primary factor in bad breath, and tongue scraping with a metal scraper is the most effective method for removing the said coating [22][23]. While tongue brushing does work, a scraper is much more effective. Scrape from the back of the tongue forward 5–7 strokes each morning before eating or drinking.

The Oral Microbiome
The oral microbiome is an ecosystem of 700+ bacterial species. Aggressive antiseptics disrupt the commensal bacteria which is important for oral and systemic health.

The nitric oxide connection. Commensal oral bacteria reduce dietary nitrate to nitrite in saliva. This nitrite is swallowed, converted to nitric oxide systemically, and contributes to vasodilation and blood pressure regulation — the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway [26][27].

Antibacterial mouthwash ruins this pathway — it depletes oral nitrate-reducing bacteria and decreases nitric oxide bioavailability [26][27][28]. 3 days of antibacterial mouthwash use significantly blunted oral nitrate reduction and elevated systolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals [27]. Using mouthwash twice daily had 2.17x the rate of hypertension development compared to non-users [26]. Using OTC mouthwash regularly is linked to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction [28].

⚠ Daily alcohol-based or broad-spectrum antibacterial mouthwash use is terrible for both your oral microbiome health and cardiovascular function.

Better mouthwash alternatives:

• Chlorine dioxide rinses (CloSYS): oxidizes VSCs directly through a different mechanism; no broad-spectrum bacterial destruction.
• CPC-based rinses (Crest Pro-Health): cetylpyridinium chloride is antibacterial but there is less microbiome damage than other alcohol-based mouthwashes.

Supplementing with probiotic BLIS K12. Streptococcus salivarius K12 is a naturally commensal oral bacteria that produces two lantibiotic bacteriocins, which suppress pathogens that produce VSCs. The combination of conventional hygiene + tongue scraping + chlorhexidine + BLIS K12 produced much better and more consistent bad breath reduction over a 3-month follow-up compared to other methods [30][31]. K12 without tongue scraping or antimicrobial pre-treatment did have significant reductions in VSC [32]. Tongue scrape first, then use probiotics.

Saliva & Dry Mouth
Saliva is the body's natural antibacterial defense and is crucial for remineralizing, pH-buffering, and removing debris.

What causes dry mouth:

• Mouth breathing
• Medications
• Dehydration

What are the consequences:

• Accelerated tooth decay
• High risk of gum disease
• Bad breath

Solutions: Breathe out of your nose, drink lots of water, chew xylitol gum, use Biotène for more benefits. If you think your medication is the cause, go see a doctor.

Diet & Breath

• Garlic and onions: sulfur compounds in these foods enter into the bloodstream and are exhaled from the mouth; nothing but scented gum can help.
• Keto: acetone exhaled out the mouth is another issue that can't be helped with tongue scraping or any other treatment.
• Coffee: reduces saliva production and coats the tongue. Rinse with water after. Also, lots of coffee drinking will stain your teeth.

Spoiler: 8. Daily Oral Care Protocol

Daily Oral Care Protocol

Morning

1. Tongue scrape.
2. Rinse with CloSYS or water.
3. Floss OR water flosser to remove interproximal plaque a brush cannot reach. Water flosser is especially effective.
4. Brush teeth for 2 minutes at a 45° angle to the gumline. Use fluoride or HAp toothpaste.
5. Spit only — do not rinse; let fluoride or HAp remain on tooth surfaces.
6. Xylitol gum 20 minutes after breakfast.

Night

1. Floss first.
2. Brush thoroughly.
3. Tongue scrape.
4. Apply GC MI Paste (CPP-ACP) to teeth if you are high cavity-risk.
5. BLIS K12 probiotic tablet — dissolve slowly in your mouth as the final step.

Spoiler: 9. References

References

1. American Association of Orthodontists. "Does Mewing Actually Reshape Your Jaw?" aaoinfo.org, July 2025. https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
2. Valley Advanced Ortho. "Mewing Myth Debunked: Why Viral Jawline Exercises Could Harm Your Smile." valleyadvancedortho.com, August 2025. https://valleyadvancedortho.com/mew...iral-jawline-exercises-could-harm-your-smile/
3. Mewinghub. "Does Mewing Expand the Palate? The Truth About Tongue Posture." Citing Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery commentary. https://mewinghub.com/blogs/mewing-...-the-palate-exploring-the-scientific-evidence
4. Kapetanovic A, Theodorou CI, Bergé SJ, Schols JGJH, Xi T. "Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis." European Journal of Orthodontics. 2021;43(3):313–323. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33882127/
5. Barberio M, et al. "Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion: A Scoping Review of Influencing Factors, Side Effects, and Soft Tissue Alterations." Dentistry Journal. 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11591991/
6. Kapetanovic A, et al. "Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults with the Dutch Maxillary Expansion Device: a prospective clinical cohort study." Clinical Oral Investigations. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35731323/
7. Restrepo C, et al. "Stability of maxillary expansion and tongue posture." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2009;135(1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216585/
8. Fakhruddin KS, et al. "Fluoride in Dental Caries Prevention and Treatment: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Public Health Perspectives." Healthcare. 2025;13(17):2246. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40941599/
9. Buzalaf MAR, et al. "The Role of Fluoride on Caries Prevention." StatPearls (Internet). NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587342/
10. World Health Organization. "Fluoride Toothpaste: Application for Inclusion in the WHO Essential Medicines List." WHO EML Application Document. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/defa...of-new-medicines/a.14_fluoride-toothpaste.pdf
11. Limeback H, et al. "The use of hydroxyapatite toothpaste to prevent dental caries." PMC. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8930857/
12. Amaechi BT, et al. "Comparative efficacy of a hydroxyapatite and a fluoride toothpaste for prevention and remineralization of dental caries in children." BDJ Open. 2019;5:18. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
13. Milly H, et al. "Home Oral Care with Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite vs. Conventional Fluoridated Toothpaste for the Remineralization and Desensitizing of White Spot Lesions: Randomized Clinical Trial." PMC. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9317292/
14. Kriebel K, et al. "The role of hydroxyapatite-based, fluoride-free toothpastes on the prevention and the remineralization of initial caries lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Journal of Dentistry. 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571225001368
15. Enax J, et al. "Caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial." Frontiers in Public Health. 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1199728/full
16. Naumova EA, et al. "Remineralization and protection from demineralization: effects of a hydroxyapatite-containing, a fluoride-containing and a fluoride- and hydroxyapatite-free toothpaste on human enamel in vitro." PubMed. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35831871/
17. Janakiram C, Deepan Kumar CV, Joseph J. "Xylitol in preventing dental caries: A systematic review and meta-analyses." Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. 2017;8(1):16–21. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5320817/
18. Milgrom P, et al. "Mutans Streptococci Dose Response to Xylitol Chewing Gum." Journal of Dental Research. 2006. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2225984/
19. Scardina GA, et al. "Comparison of Side Effects Between MARPE and SARPE in Adult Patients: A Scoping Review." Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(2):47. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/2/47
20. Miokovic N, et al. "Specific effects of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci levels, plaque accumulation and caries occurrence: a systematic review." BMC Oral Health. 2025. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-025-06602-1
21. Ye W, Zhang Y, He M, Zhu C, Feng XP. "Relationship of tongue coating microbiome on volatile sulfur compounds in healthy and halitosis adults." Journal of Breath Research. 2019;14(1):016005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31553956/
22. Tangerman A. "Volatile Sulfur Compounds as The Cause of Bad Breath." Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon. 2013;188(4). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10426507.2012.736894
23. Lee YH, Hong JY. "Oral microbiome as a co-mediator of halitosis and periodontitis: a narrative review." Frontiers in Oral Health. 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2023.1229145/full
24. Tonzetich J, Ng SK. "Reduction of malodour by oral cleansing procedures." Oral Surgery. 1976. Cited in Krespi et al.
25. Kim BJ, et al. "Investigation of volatile sulfur compound level and halitosis in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis." Scientific Reports. 2023;13:13240. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40391-3
26. Joshipura KJ, et al. "Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk." Blood Pressure. 2020;29(2). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7125030/
27. Bondonno CP, et al. "Antibacterial mouthwash blunts oral nitrate reduction and increases blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women." American Journal of Hypertension. 2015;28(5):572–575. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25359409/
28. Johansson M, et al. "Association of over-the-counter mouthwash use with markers of nitric oxide metabolism, inflammation, and endothelial function — a cross-sectional study." Frontiers in Oral Health. 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1488286/full
29. Burton JP, et al. "A preliminary study of the effect of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 on oral malodour parameters." Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2006;100(4):754–764. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16553730/
30. Jamali Z, et al. "Impact of Chlorhexidine Pretreatment Followed by Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius Strain K12 on Halitosis in Children: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial." Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry. 2016;14(4):305–313. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27508274/
31. Nutritional Outlook. "BLIS K12 Found to Support Oral Hygiene, Reduce the Severity of Halitosis." Summary of Jamali et al. https://www.supplysidesj.com/health...oral-hygiene-reduce-the-severity-of-halitosis
32. He L, Yang H, Chen Z, Ouyang X. "The Effect of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on Halitosis: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. 2020;12:1321–1329. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32227309/

TL;DR (short)​

• Mouth affects lower-face balance, lip support, jawline, and breath.
• Mewing: good for nasal breathing/posture, but won’t remodel adult bone.
• Palate/jaw: real widening in adults = MARPE/MSE; if not enough, SARPE (surgical). Severe bite issues often need jaw surgery.
• Aesthetics: whiten professionally or with trays; avoid abrasive/acid DIY. Shape/gums matter too (bonding/contouring/gum work).
• Health: fluoride (or hydroxyapatite) + flossing + don’t brush right after acids; treat grinding with a night guard.
• Breath: usually tongue + gums → tongue scrape daily; avoid harsh mouthwash; xylitol/probiotics can help.
• Routine: AM scrape→floss→brush (don’t rinse). PM floss→brush→scrape (+ MI Paste/BLIS K12 if needed).

thanks Synapzyzz for the surgery stuff. pm me if theres anything incorrect here. kanyewestlover66 formatting is JEWPT'D

 

[dior]

hymen post

 

[tmpll]

nice

 

[Synapzyzz]

what happened to the formatting of my stuff tho?

 

[antifoidaction]

what happened to the formatting of my stuff tho?

wdym

 

[Godveil Heir]

really want to delete this garbage for misinformation

you can't be real, adding all the copium that exists in the LM sphere

nvm
just sleep deprivation made me missunderstand it
sorry OP

 

[Godveil Heir]

lot of gpt support but high effort nonetheless
dior pin worthy?

I'm not in the state to read and verify the content rn
you decide the fate of this post

 

[Synapzyzz]

looks good and high effort but tons of jewgpt, nevertheless thanks for referencing me and mirin this, i like it.

 

[Circadex]

Why are you using the orange gold gradient man don't make it oversaturated

anyways mirin formatting. Who helped?

 

[antifoidaction]

looks good and high effort but tons of jewgpt

if only there was a formatting guide Circadex

 

[antifoidaction]

Why are you using the orange gold gradient man don't make it oversaturated

anyways mirin formatting. Who helped?

jewpt

 

[Circadex]

if only there was a formatting guide Circadex

Im making as we speak be patient

 

[FoidSlayer]

if only there was a formatting guide Circadex

Mirin this guide

With the spoilers I feel like it would look better if you aligned them in the center

 

[Circadex]

Mirin this guide

With the spoilers I feel like it would look better if you aligned them in the center

Perhaps a left to right "zipper" alignment

 

[dior]

lot of gpt support but high effort nonetheless
dior pin worthy?

I'm not in the state to read and verify the content rn
you decide the fate of this post

Yeah pin worthy.

 

[Circadex]

Like this

Spoiler: XYZ

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Hmm but theres bulk. GBT can cut down and revision, though

 

[FoidSlayer]

Like this

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XYZ[/SPOILER

Hmm but theres bulk. GBT can cut down and revision, though

Not my cup of tea tbh

 

[nettspend]

Like this

Spoiler: XYZ

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XYZ[/SPOILER

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XYZ[/SPOILER

Hmm but theres bulk. GBT can cut down and revision, though

Thats a lot of spoilers man

 

[Circadex]

Not my cup of tea tbh

You haven't seen what im thinking about

that's rough idea of it, not at all a representation of how it would look. Im more so thinking out loud ideas

 

[Firstsubhuman]

holy shit dude mirin, but teeth whitening part is unnecessary just use teeth whitening strips or use the botb guide on org by pnuemo

 

[antifoidaction]

holy shit dude mirin, but teeth whitening part is unnecessary just use teeth whitening strips or use the botb guide on org by pnuemo

i was focused on longevity more than anything else, you can acheive good whitening without scumming your enamel and i figured the options wouldnt hurt

 

[Ascension]

MOUTH MEGAGUIDE

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Table of Contents

1. Why the Mouth Matters for Aesthetics
2. Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure
3. Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening
4. Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry
5. Surgical Options
6. Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health
7. Breath & the Oral Microbiome
8. Daily Oral Care Protocol
9. References

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━​

Spoiler: JEWPT'D TLDR

TLDR — Quick Reference​

Your mouth affects your whole face: teeth position supports lips, palate width shapes the midface, bite affects jawline, and breath matters socially.

• Mewing: good for nasal breathing + tongue posture habits, but no solid evidence it remodels adult bone. Treat it as a low-risk habit, not a transformation hack.
• Palate expansion:
  • Kids/teens: RPE works best before the suture fuses (roughly late teens).
  • Adults: MARPE/MSE can create real skeletal expansion; success drops with age, especially ~30+.
  • If MARPE isn't enough: SARPE is the surgical option for reliable adult expansion.
• Masseters: chewing harder gum can grow them, but overdoing it can cause jaw issues/asymmetry.
• Bite matters: Class II/III issues are often skeletal; orthodontics can help mild cases, surgery for severe discrepancies.
• Whitening: strongest results from professional or custom trays; strips work but slower; toothpastes mostly remove surface stains. Avoid abrasive/acid DIY methods.
• Smile aesthetics isn't just color: tooth shape/ratio, symmetry, and gum line matter. Options: contouring, bonding, gum treatments.
• Cosmetic dentistry: veneers can look amazing but are often irreversible (enamel removal). Get a digital mockup and pay for quality.
• Straight teeth are non-negotiable: braces/Invisalign/lingual all work depending on severity and budget.
• Big surgeries:
  • Jaw surgery (orthognathic) for real skeletal problems (largest aesthetic/functional impact).
  • Genioplasty reshapes/advances the chin; implants add projection but are less "complete."
  • Masseter Botox slims the lower face temporarily and helps grinding.
• Cavity prevention:cavities are bacterial acid damage; early damage can be reversed.
  • Fluoride = gold standard (don't rinse after brushing).
  • Hydroxyapatite is a strong alternative for some people.
  • Xylitol helps reduce cavity bacteria (dose matters).
  • CPP-ACP can help remineralization, especially if high-risk/dry mouth/after whitening.
• Protect enamel: don't brush right after acidic food/drink; treat reflux; grinding wrecks teeth — get a night guard.
• Bad breath:usually from the mouth, especially tongue coating + gum pockets + decay/tonsil stones.
  • Tongue scraping is #1 daily habit.
  • Don't overuse harsh antiseptic mouthwash — can disrupt the oral microbiome (and nitrate/NO pathway).
  • Better options: chlorine dioxide rinses, sometimes CPC, plus BLIS K12 probiotic as support.
• Daily protocol:
  • AM: scrape tongue → rinse → floss/water floss → brush (don't rinse) → xylitol after eating.
  • PM: floss → brush → scrape → CPP-ACP if needed → BLIS K12 last.

Spoiler: 1. Why the Mouth Matters for Aesthetics

Why the Mouth Matters

The mouth is one of the most analyzed features during face-to-face interaction. Its aesthetics affect:

• Facial thirds balance — the lower third is influenced heavily by dental structure, jaw development, and lip support.
• Lip projection & fullness — retracted teeth = thin looking flat lips; the position of your teeth pushes your lips outwards.
• Smile aesthetics — teeth color, gum line, dental symmetry, and gum line all help your perceived attractiveness.
• Jawline definition — bite, palate width, and masseter size change your mandibular angle.
• Scent — breath is an important social signal, makes you more attractive.

Spoiler: 2. Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure

Palate Expansion & Jaw Structure

Why This Matters
Crowded teeth, underdeveloped midface, mouth breathing, and a less defined jaw are all symptoms of a narrow palate. Palate width is one of the most important features of facial aesthetics.

Mewing
Everyone knows what mewing is but I'll explain anyway: resting the entire flat of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, teeth together, and breathing through your nose with your mouth closed.

The science is unclear and effects are anecdotal. Current peer-reviewed literature does not support the idea that mewing can cause skeletal remodeling in adults [1][2]. Tongue posture alone cannot generate the force/pressure needed for actual bone remodeling [2]. Tongue posture can correlate with craniofacial development in children but it is not the primary driver and no study has established causation from mewing alone. Research shows that while tongue posture does correlate with craniofacial development in children, it appears to be one of many variables rather than a primary driver, and no longitudinal study has established causation from tongue posture alone [3].

What the evidence does support for mewing-adjacent concepts:

• Nose breathing and mewing are provably beneficial for breathing, swallowing, and mouth health [1][7].
• RPE in children leads to high tongue posture and the possibility of mewing and palate width being bidirectional is real [7].
• Wolff's law is true but there is no RCT that proves tongue pressure can cause the pressure needed for adult bone remodeling.

The Truth: Mewing as a nose breathing, tongue posture, and swallowing aid is real but actual bone remodeling in adults is supported by nothing; it should be treated as a low-risk habit rather than a substitute for surgery — but this is obvious. Any TikToker who claims mewing can remodel your face is lying.

Palate Expansion Without Surgery
Used to physically widen the upper palate in children and adolescents:

• Hyrax / Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) — bonded to your upper molars and turned daily for expansion; creates a gap in the mid-palatal suture that fills with bone over time.
• Best time: before your mid-palatal suture begins to fuse, 17–18; after fusion the effects of RPE drop quickly.

MARPE (Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion)
For adults whose suture has started ossifying. Miniscrews are drilled into the palate to avoid resistance and anchor the expander directly to the bone.

Strong supported research. A mean success rate of 92.5% in adults and late adolescents, with significant increases to skeletal structure [4]. MARPE has much better suture expansion with fewer complications compared with RPE in adults [5]. 94.1% success rate with mean expansion of 6.56mm at first molars [6]. Age is important — most people over 30 see little success because of late-stage suture ossification; success rate is sometimes less than 20% [19]. In addition, some studies show a 10–30% increase in nasal cavity volume [18].

MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expander)
Much more aggressive variant of MARPE; uses 4 screws targeting all cortical layers, used mostly for maximum airway improvement. Can expand posteriorly toward the nasal cavity.

Chewing & Masseter Development
Chewing hard hypertrophies the masseter.

Mastic gum — significantly harder than regular gum; developed masseters produce a more defined lower jaw. Do not overdo it — could strain your jaw or cause asymmetry.

Bite Classes & Occlusion

• Class I (ideal): upper teeth slightly over lower teeth.
• Class II (overbite/overjet): often the cause of weak chin; upper jaw is forward; common in mouth breathers.
• Class III (underbite): protruding lower jaw.

Bite class is mostly skeletal; some orthodontics can compensate for small issues but surgery is needed for severe cases.

Spoiler: 3. Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening

Teeth Aesthetics & Whitening

Tooth Color
Natural tooth color ranges from A1 (light yellow-white) to D4 (dark gray-brown). Most are in the A2–A3 range. Many whiten to get B1 but personally I think this looks unnatural.

What determines tooth color:

• Enamel thickness — your enamel thins with age; thinner enamel exposes the yellowish dentin beneath your enamel.
• Dentin color — genetics; darkens over time.
• Extrinsic stains — coffee, tea, wine, tobacco; sit on top of the enamel; easy to remove.
• Intrinsic stains — embedded in the tooth structure; whitening may not fully remove them.

Whitening Methods by Effectiveness

1. Professional Whitening

• Zoom / Philips: light-activated 35% hydrogen peroxide; results in 1–2 hours.
• Opalescence Boost: high-concentration chemically activated gel; no light needed.
• Can whiten 6–10 shades in a single session.
• Cost: $300–$1,000 depending on practice and location.
• Pre-treat with desensitizing toothpaste — I recommend potassium nitrate or Sensodyne Pronamel for about 2 weeks beforehand to reduce tooth sensitivity.

2. Custom Take-Home Trays

• Dentist-made trays and carbamide peroxide gel put on for 30 min/day.
• Results take 1–3 weeks but are much less sensitive.
• Cost: $100–$400 for the trays + gel.

3. Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips

• Whitening strips is the best over-the-counter option; aim for 10% hydrogen peroxide.
• After 20 days, maybe 3–4 shade change but does not cover back teeth as well.

4. Whitening Toothpastes

• Works via removing surface stains.
• Some toothpastes visibly change color almost instantly but it doesn't have any permanent change; good for maintenance.

⚠ Use at Your Own Risk

• Charcoal toothpaste — extremely abrasive and will ruin your enamel; not recommended by ANY dentist.
• Lemon juice scrubs — ruins enamel integrity.
• Over-whitening — will destroy your enamel and make your teeth blue at the edge; know when to stop.

Tooth Shape & Contour
Beyond color, proportion matters:

• Dental contouring: grinds your teeth with fine discs/burs to reshape teeth; fix chips or sharp canines; can be used to fix asymmetries. $150, no anesthesia required.
• Dental bonding: resin applied to close gaps, fix chips, or change shape. $200 per tooth; lasts 6 years.
• Ideal width-to-height ratio for central incisors is around 75–80%.

Gum Aesthetics

• Gum line symmetry — uneven gums can make your smile look weird even if your teeth are perfectly white.
• Gummy smile — too much gums can also be a problem; corrected via laser gum treatment or Botox in the upper lip elevator muscles.
• Gum recession — no gums; makes your teeth look extremely long; can be treated with gum grafting.

Spoiler: 4. Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry

Veneers & Cosmetic Dentistry

Porcelain Veneers
Thin porcelain shells attached to the front of the teeth — the "best" cosmetic dental procedure besides implants or surgery.

What they fix:

• Very bad discoloration; intrinsic stains that whitening can't fix.
• Fucked up teeth — British people love veneers.
• Crowding for mild cases.

Types:

• Traditional veneers: 0.5–0.7mm of enamel must be removed. This will never go away or regrow; you will always require a cover for your teeth.
• Lumineers: little to no enamel removal. Only suitable in limited cases; usually looks bulky on normal-sized teeth.
• Ultra-thin veneers (DURAthin): ~0.2mm of enamel must be removed; minimal prep. Better aesthetics than Lumineers.

What to know for aesthetics/lifetime:

• Please get a digital mock-up before getting veneers. If your dentist refuses, go to someone else — this is a life-changing procedure and you cannot go back.
• Veneer shape is customizable; know what you want before going.
• Spend the money to get nice veneers — "chiclet" veneers look like shit.
• Cost: $1,000–$2,500 per tooth. A full upper set of 8–10 is $10,000–$25,000; this can be more or less. If you're not willing to spend the money to get GOOD veneers just don't get them — a shitty set will ruin your life.
• Lifespan: 10–20 years if you take care of them.

Composite Veneers

• Resin applied directly by dentist.
• Cost: $250–$1,500 per tooth.
• Lifespan: 5–7 years but much more prone to damage and stains.
• If you're thinking of veneers, try these first and see if you like it.

Dental Bonding

• Targeted resin repairs for chips, gaps, or other damage.
• $100–$400 per tooth; reversible; also very fast.

Dental Implants

• Great for missing teeth; a titanium screw is screwed into the jaw and a crown is placed in.
• The best-looking replacement for missing teeth; also very functional.
• Cost: $3,000–$6,000 per implant including the crown; may need a bone graft if the tooth has been missing for a long time.

Orthodontics
Straight teeth is absolutely a must — fucked up teeth completely ruins your face.

• Traditional metal braces: tried and true; will fix your teeth; there are other side effects. $3,000–$7,000.
• Ceramic braces: same as metal; same price.
• Invisalign / clear aligners: best for mildly messed up mouth; it's important that you use it. $3,000–$8,000.
• Lingual braces: want to fix your teeth and not tell anyone? This is your best friend; will give you a lisp at the start. $8,000–$13,000.

Spoiler: 5. Surgical Options

Surgical Options

Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery)
By far the most important facial aesthetic surgery when there is actual skeletal discrepancy; moves the mandible and/or the maxilla.

All credit for this goes to Synapzyzz

Le Fort 1: It's done by performing a horizontal cut above the teeth, separating the upper jaw from the rest of the face. It's very commonly used to fix malocclusions such as an underbite or open bite and it's a very common procedure in jaw surgery.

The advancement obtained is measured in mm, and the advancement needed — like with the majority of these surgeries — is case dependent, but the best results are usually from 3–8mm. Larger advancement (8–10mm) can be a bit less stable and carry a more significant relapse risk.

Risk category overall: Low to moderate.

Infection Risk: Low. According to this PubMed study, out of the 512 patients screened, 41 patients (around 8%) were diagnosed with a surgical site infection.
Study

Botch Risk: Low. A PubMed study about complications during orthognathic surgery found that the number of overall complication rates (minor + major): 6–15%; however, the number of serious complications is significantly lower than the total rate.
Study

Relapse Risk: Low to moderate (depends highly on the type of fixing plates used). According to two PubMed studies, measurable relapse can occur around 10–25%; however this relapse is usually of around 1–2mm.
Study 1 | Study 2

Recovery time: Around 9–12 months for full bone remodeling and fusion, although the worst swelling starts to fade around 2 weeks post-op, and tends to fully go 6–8 months post-op.

Price:

• Worldwide: $8,000–$25,000
• USA: $18,000–$35,000 (hospital + anesthesia + surgeon fees)

SARPE (Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion)
For adults that need expansion that MARPE cannot achieve reliably. The surgeon makes osteotomy cuts in the lateral walls of the maxilla; an expansion device is then placed and activated post-surgery. Provides much wider skeletal expansion than MARPE — 3.3mm average with SARPE vs. 2.3mm for MARPE [4]. Recovery is quick.

Genioplasty (Chin Surgery)
Again, credit to Synapzyzz for this.

It involves the cutting of the chin/mental bone to reposition it; sliding genio focuses more on altering the chin shape with 2 precision cuts and also changing the projection; it can also vertically lengthen the chin.

Typical advancement ranges from 5–8mm, but 8–10 can be stable too.

Risk category overall: Low to moderate.

Infection risk: Reported infection rate sits low at around 1–5%; mandibular surgeries sit at around 7.4% but genio sits lower.
Study

Botch risk: Low, as the complications are usually easily fixable — being numbness and hematomas; overall rate sits at around 8%.

Relapse risk: I did not find any study providing info for this one, but it seems to be super rare. A small drift is possible but real relapse is so weird that we don't have ranges or rates for it.

Recovery time: Full bone fusion as usual takes around 9–12 months; total swelling tends to disappear around 3–6 months post-op.

Price:

• Worldwide: $5,000–$12,000+
• USA: $6,000–$15,000

Chin Implants
Implant placed through incision under the chin or in the mouth. Can add projection and/or width — "worse" than genioplasty; cannot correct asymmetry or vertical height. See @synapzz's surgery guide for better info on implants.

Masseter Botox
Injecting Botox into your masseter to atrophy your muscle over 2–4 months; for creating a slimmer, V-shaped lower face. Can also help bruxism. Only lasts 4–6 months but effects may last longer with repeated treatments. $600–$1,500.

Gum Surgery

• Crown lengthening / gum contouring: for removing excess gum tissue and exposing more tooth structure or creating a more even gum line.
• Gum grafting (connective tissue graft): tissue taken from palate and grafted into areas of gum recession; good for aesthetics and root exposure.
• Frenectomy: removes the frenum when it's causing a tooth gap.

Spoiler: 6. Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health

Cavity Prevention & Enamel Health

Understanding Cavities (this is important)

Cavities form when acid-producing bacteria — mostly Streptococcus mutans — metabolize fermentable sugars and produce acid that demineralizes enamel. This is a reversible process if you catch it early [8].

Stages:

1. White spot lesion — subsurface enamel demineralized but surface intact; reversible with remineralization.
2. Enamel cavity — breakdown of surface; may still be reversible if caught early.
3. Dentin cavity — reached dentin layer; requires a filling.
4. Pulp involvement — root canal needed; this will hurt.

How to Remineralize

Fluoride — the best way to avoid cavities. Hundreds of studies prove that it is the best way to fix/prevent cavities. It is the most evidence-based cavity prevention tool in existence. Fluoride consistently prevents and treats cavities across all delivery forms through remineralization of enamel, demineralization inhibition, and antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans [8][9].

• How it works: Fluoride incorporates into enamel as fluorapatite, which is more acid-resistant than the natural hydroxyapatite. It also inhibits bacterial glycolysis (how acid is produced) and has direct bactericidal effects at low pH [9][10].
• Do NOT rinse after brushing: spit only after brushing, as leaving the fluoride film on teeth magnifies the protective benefits.
• High-fluoride toothpaste (5000 ppm, e.g., Prevident 5000): only prescribed for high-cavity-risk individuals and early white spot lesions; used daily instead of regular toothpaste.
• Regular fluoride toothpaste (1000–1500 ppm): adequate for most people with twice-daily use; recommended is 1000–1500 ppm for all ages [10].

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a biomimetic remineralizer — it has the same chemical composition of natural enamel and integrates with the natural tooth structure [11].

HAp-containing toothpaste produces enamel remineralization comparable to fluoride at equivalent concentrations [11][12][13]. HAp is a viable fluoride alternative for cavity prevention [14]. In adults there is no significant difference in cavity-prevention efficacy between HAp and 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste [15]. Results are not entirely uniform — one study found a specific HAp toothpaste inferior to a fluoride toothpaste under high-acid conditions [16]; pick your toothpaste carefully and get a dentist recommendation. HAp has the additional advantages of not being toxic when inevitably swallowed, no risk of fluorosis, and it does not disrupt the oral microbiome. HAp also shows evidence of reducing dentinal hypersensitivity at a greater level compared to standard fluoride toothpaste [13].

Xylitol is a 5-carbon sugar alcohol that Streptococcus mutans cannot metabolize. Instead, bacteria transport it into the cell, where it is converted to xylitol-5-phosphate — a compound that is toxic to the bacteria, essentially starving them [17][18].

• Studies show xylitol produces a significant reduction in DMFS scores versus controls [17].
• Plaque Streptococcus mutans levels were 10x lower than baseline at 5 weeks and 6 months in groups consuming 6.88g/day of xylitol with no further benefit above 6.88g/day [18].
• Xylitol gum significantly reduces Streptococcus mutans counts in 12 of 14 comparisons [20].
• Recommended dose: 6–10g/day.
• Bacterial resistance: some strains of Streptococcus mutans can develop a resistance to xylitol so it should not be your only treatment.

CPP-ACP (GC MI Paste) — Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate applies calcium and phosphate ions onto the tooth surface directly; applied after brushing WITHOUT rinsing off. Very valuable post-whitening when your enamel is more porous, or if you have a dry mouth.

Enamel Preservation
Erosion from acid is a significant part of enamel damage.

• Sources: citrus, carbonated drinks, vinegar, acid reflux, and frequent vomiting.
• Do not brush immediately after consuming acidic food or drink — enamel is temporarily softened and brushing at this moment causes net mineral loss. Wait 30–60 minutes, or rinse with water or a dilute baking soda solution first.
• If you have GERD, see a doctor immediately and get a recommendation for treatment, as the chronic acid exposure will ruin your enamel from the lingual surface up.

Bruxism / Teeth Grinding
Accelerates enamel breakdown greatly; most grind their teeth at night.

• Signs: flattened/worn incisal edges, jaw soreness when waking up, teeth chipping.
• Solutions: see a dentist ASAP and get a custom night guard to avoid teeth shifting. Products like OTC boil-and-bite if unavailable. Take magnesium as some anecdotal evidence exists for reducing grinding frequency. Masseter Botox also helps.

Spoiler: 7. Breath & the Oral Microbiome

Breath & the Oral Microbiome

Why You Have Bad Breath

Most bad breath originates in the oral cavity [21][22][23]. The main causes are volatile sulfur compounds — hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl sulfide — which make up almost 90% of intraoral VSCs [21][23]. VSCs are produced when anaerobic bacteria break down amino acids that contain sulfur from dead cells, debris, saliva, and blood [21][23].

Where VSCs are produced:

1. Tongue dorsum is the number one source of VSCs. The posterior tongue is rough, papillated, and creates anaerobic crypts ideal for sulfur-producing bacteria. Research shows that tongue coating is the primary reason for inducing bad breath [22][23][24].
2. Bacteria below your gums in pockets next to the root between the gum and the tooth is also a major factor (periodontal pockets). People with periodontitis show 30% higher VSC values than those without [25]. Pathogens include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia [21][22].
3. Cavities and tooth decay.
4. Tonsil stones are another major VSC producer. If you have tonsil stones, see a dentist.

Tongue Scraping
The most impactful daily practice for breath. Studies confirm that tongue coating is the primary factor in bad breath, and tongue scraping with a metal scraper is the most effective method for removing the said coating [22][23]. While tongue brushing does work, a scraper is much more effective. Scrape from the back of the tongue forward 5–7 strokes each morning before eating or drinking.

The Oral Microbiome
The oral microbiome is an ecosystem of 700+ bacterial species. Aggressive antiseptics disrupt the commensal bacteria which is important for oral and systemic health.

The nitric oxide connection. Commensal oral bacteria reduce dietary nitrate to nitrite in saliva. This nitrite is swallowed, converted to nitric oxide systemically, and contributes to vasodilation and blood pressure regulation — the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway [26][27].

Antibacterial mouthwash ruins this pathway — it depletes oral nitrate-reducing bacteria and decreases nitric oxide bioavailability [26][27][28]. 3 days of antibacterial mouthwash use significantly blunted oral nitrate reduction and elevated systolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals [27]. Using mouthwash twice daily had 2.17x the rate of hypertension development compared to non-users [26]. Using OTC mouthwash regularly is linked to inflammation and endothelial dysfunction [28].

⚠ Daily alcohol-based or broad-spectrum antibacterial mouthwash use is terrible for both your oral microbiome health and cardiovascular function.

Better mouthwash alternatives:

• Chlorine dioxide rinses (CloSYS): oxidizes VSCs directly through a different mechanism; no broad-spectrum bacterial destruction.
• CPC-based rinses (Crest Pro-Health): cetylpyridinium chloride is antibacterial but there is less microbiome damage than other alcohol-based mouthwashes.

Supplementing with probiotic BLIS K12. Streptococcus salivarius K12 is a naturally commensal oral bacteria that produces two lantibiotic bacteriocins, which suppress pathogens that produce VSCs. The combination of conventional hygiene + tongue scraping + chlorhexidine + BLIS K12 produced much better and more consistent bad breath reduction over a 3-month follow-up compared to other methods [30][31]. K12 without tongue scraping or antimicrobial pre-treatment did have significant reductions in VSC [32]. Tongue scrape first, then use probiotics.

Saliva & Dry Mouth
Saliva is the body's natural antibacterial defense and is crucial for remineralizing, pH-buffering, and removing debris.

What causes dry mouth:

• Mouth breathing
• Medications
• Dehydration

What are the consequences:

• Accelerated tooth decay
• High risk of gum disease
• Bad breath

Solutions: Breathe out of your nose, drink lots of water, chew xylitol gum, use Biotène for more benefits. If you think your medication is the cause, go see a doctor.

Diet & Breath

• Garlic and onions: sulfur compounds in these foods enter into the bloodstream and are exhaled from the mouth; nothing but scented gum can help.
• Keto: acetone exhaled out the mouth is another issue that can't be helped with tongue scraping or any other treatment.
• Coffee: reduces saliva production and coats the tongue. Rinse with water after. Also, lots of coffee drinking will stain your teeth.

Spoiler: 8. Daily Oral Care Protocol

Daily Oral Care Protocol

Morning

1. Tongue scrape.
2. Rinse with CloSYS or water.
3. Floss OR water flosser to remove interproximal plaque a brush cannot reach. Water flosser is especially effective.
4. Brush teeth for 2 minutes at a 45° angle to the gumline. Use fluoride or HAp toothpaste.
5. Spit only — do not rinse; let fluoride or HAp remain on tooth surfaces.
6. Xylitol gum 20 minutes after breakfast.

Night

1. Floss first.
2. Brush thoroughly.
3. Tongue scrape.
4. Apply GC MI Paste (CPP-ACP) to teeth if you are high cavity-risk.
5. BLIS K12 probiotic tablet — dissolve slowly in your mouth as the final step.

Spoiler: 9. References

References

1. American Association of Orthodontists. "Does Mewing Actually Reshape Your Jaw?" aaoinfo.org, July 2025. https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
2. Valley Advanced Ortho. "Mewing Myth Debunked: Why Viral Jawline Exercises Could Harm Your Smile." valleyadvancedortho.com, August 2025. https://valleyadvancedortho.com/mew...iral-jawline-exercises-could-harm-your-smile/
3. Mewinghub. "Does Mewing Expand the Palate? The Truth About Tongue Posture." Citing Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery commentary. https://mewinghub.com/blogs/mewing-...-the-palate-exploring-the-scientific-evidence
4. Kapetanovic A, Theodorou CI, Bergé SJ, Schols JGJH, Xi T. "Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis." European Journal of Orthodontics. 2021;43(3):313–323. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33882127/
5. Barberio M, et al. "Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion: A Scoping Review of Influencing Factors, Side Effects, and Soft Tissue Alterations." Dentistry Journal. 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11591991/
6. Kapetanovic A, et al. "Efficacy of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE) in late adolescents and adults with the Dutch Maxillary Expansion Device: a prospective clinical cohort study." Clinical Oral Investigations. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35731323/
7. Restrepo C, et al. "Stability of maxillary expansion and tongue posture." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2009;135(1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216585/
8. Fakhruddin KS, et al. "Fluoride in Dental Caries Prevention and Treatment: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Public Health Perspectives." Healthcare. 2025;13(17):2246. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40941599/
9. Buzalaf MAR, et al. "The Role of Fluoride on Caries Prevention." StatPearls (Internet). NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK587342/
10. World Health Organization. "Fluoride Toothpaste: Application for Inclusion in the WHO Essential Medicines List." WHO EML Application Document. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/defa...of-new-medicines/a.14_fluoride-toothpaste.pdf
11. Limeback H, et al. "The use of hydroxyapatite toothpaste to prevent dental caries." PMC. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8930857/
12. Amaechi BT, et al. "Comparative efficacy of a hydroxyapatite and a fluoride toothpaste for prevention and remineralization of dental caries in children." BDJ Open. 2019;5:18. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41405-019-0026-8
13. Milly H, et al. "Home Oral Care with Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite vs. Conventional Fluoridated Toothpaste for the Remineralization and Desensitizing of White Spot Lesions: Randomized Clinical Trial." PMC. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9317292/
14. Kriebel K, et al. "The role of hydroxyapatite-based, fluoride-free toothpastes on the prevention and the remineralization of initial caries lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Journal of Dentistry. 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571225001368
15. Enax J, et al. "Caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical trial." Frontiers in Public Health. 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1199728/full
16. Naumova EA, et al. "Remineralization and protection from demineralization: effects of a hydroxyapatite-containing, a fluoride-containing and a fluoride- and hydroxyapatite-free toothpaste on human enamel in vitro." PubMed. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35831871/
17. Janakiram C, Deepan Kumar CV, Joseph J. "Xylitol in preventing dental caries: A systematic review and meta-analyses." Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. 2017;8(1):16–21. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5320817/
18. Milgrom P, et al. "Mutans Streptococci Dose Response to Xylitol Chewing Gum." Journal of Dental Research. 2006. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2225984/
19. Scardina GA, et al. "Comparison of Side Effects Between MARPE and SARPE in Adult Patients: A Scoping Review." Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(2):47. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/2/47
20. Miokovic N, et al. "Specific effects of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci levels, plaque accumulation and caries occurrence: a systematic review." BMC Oral Health. 2025. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12903-025-06602-1
21. Ye W, Zhang Y, He M, Zhu C, Feng XP. "Relationship of tongue coating microbiome on volatile sulfur compounds in healthy and halitosis adults." Journal of Breath Research. 2019;14(1):016005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31553956/
22. Tangerman A. "Volatile Sulfur Compounds as The Cause of Bad Breath." Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon. 2013;188(4). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10426507.2012.736894
23. Lee YH, Hong JY. "Oral microbiome as a co-mediator of halitosis and periodontitis: a narrative review." Frontiers in Oral Health. 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2023.1229145/full
24. Tonzetich J, Ng SK. "Reduction of malodour by oral cleansing procedures." Oral Surgery. 1976. Cited in Krespi et al.
25. Kim BJ, et al. "Investigation of volatile sulfur compound level and halitosis in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis." Scientific Reports. 2023;13:13240. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40391-3
26. Joshipura KJ, et al. "Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk." Blood Pressure. 2020;29(2). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7125030/
27. Bondonno CP, et al. "Antibacterial mouthwash blunts oral nitrate reduction and increases blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women." American Journal of Hypertension. 2015;28(5):572–575. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25359409/
28. Johansson M, et al. "Association of over-the-counter mouthwash use with markers of nitric oxide metabolism, inflammation, and endothelial function — a cross-sectional study." Frontiers in Oral Health. 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2025.1488286/full
29. Burton JP, et al. "A preliminary study of the effect of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 on oral malodour parameters." Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2006;100(4):754–764. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16553730/
30. Jamali Z, et al. "Impact of Chlorhexidine Pretreatment Followed by Probiotic Streptococcus salivarius Strain K12 on Halitosis in Children: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial." Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry. 2016;14(4):305–313. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27508274/
31. Nutritional Outlook. "BLIS K12 Found to Support Oral Hygiene, Reduce the Severity of Halitosis." Summary of Jamali et al. https://www.supplysidesj.com/health...oral-hygiene-reduce-the-severity-of-halitosis
32. He L, Yang H, Chen Z, Ouyang X. "The Effect of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on Halitosis: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. 2020;12:1321–1329. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32227309/

TL;DR (short)​

• Mouth affects lower-face balance, lip support, jawline, and breath.
• Mewing: good for nasal breathing/posture, but won’t remodel adult bone.
• Palate/jaw: real widening in adults = MARPE/MSE; if not enough, SARPE (surgical). Severe bite issues often need jaw surgery.
• Aesthetics: whiten professionally or with trays; avoid abrasive/acid DIY. Shape/gums matter too (bonding/contouring/gum work).
• Health: fluoride (or hydroxyapatite) + flossing + don’t brush right after acids; treat grinding with a night guard.
• Breath: usually tongue + gums → tongue scrape daily; avoid harsh mouthwash; xylitol/probiotics can help.
• Routine: AM scrape→floss→brush (don’t rinse). PM floss→brush→scrape (+ MI Paste/BLIS K12 if needed).

thanks Synapzyzz for the surgery stuff. pm me if theres anything incorrect here. kanyewestlover66 formatting is JEWPT'D

Great thread

 

[Rm1]

I thought this was a thread on how to give head

 

[BROOTAL]

how do i get prescribed a palate expander

 

[antifoidaction]

how do i get prescribed a palate expander

tell your ortho your tongue doesnt fit in your mouth and its hard to breath out of your nose,