All faces feature some form of asymmetry. These imperfections are usually tolerable; sometimes, they even add character and charm to your appearance. The same is true with protruded lips, which may possibly impact your looks, including your smile.
What are protruded lips?
As you probably know, the word ‘protrude’ means to stick out or jut out. Having a protruding mouth or lips means your upper or lower lip or both stick out when compared to your nose and chin. This can be more easily noticeable from a profile or side view.
You may be wondering, why are my lips protruding? There are several causes for protruded lips, and they usually relate to how your teeth are positioned. For example, it could be due to crooked teeth, an underbite or overbite, or a congenital condition known as prognathism (protruding jaw), which itself can cause misaligned teeth.
How protruded lips impact your appearance
Protruding lips pose aesthetic challenges that affect how you present yourself in public and cause you to lack confidence. Here are the potential negative effects of this facial feature:
A flawed smile
Despite genuine intentions to smile, your grin may still convey a subdued or pensive vibe. Others might even perceive it as forced, inauthentic, and unattractive. Even attempts at a smile makeover may not have the desired effects if this underlying condition isn’t addressed.
Involuntary teeth and gum exposure
Excessive lip protrusion can expose your teeth and gums, even when you’re not smiling. It might create the impression of bite issues, even if they don’t exist.
Unnecessary focus on the facial feature
Because the protruding mouth is more prominent, it can draw excessive attention and overemphasise the asymmetry.
Lack of facial harmony
The prominence of the lips can overshadow other facial features, creating a disproportionate appearance.
Other possible effects of protruded lips
The effects of having protruding lips extend beyond your smile. Besides giving you a sombre appearance, lips that overly protrude may also lead to:
- Speech difficulties: In some cases, pronounced lip protrusion might slightly alter speech patterns or enunciation.
- Difficulty chewing and eating: Research from the Journal of Dentofacial Anomalies and Orthodontics indicates that underlying issues concerning a protruding mouth may cause problems with eating and speaking. In some cases, a protrusion may result in drooling.
- Poor oral hygiene: Overly prominent lips might make it challenging to maintain oral hygiene due to difficulties cleaning teeth or gums efficiently.
Insecurity and low self-esteem: Individuals with protruded lips might experience self-consciousness about their facial appearance, impacting their self-esteem and confidence.
How to find out if you have protruded lips
To determine if you have protruded lips, face a mirror and examine your features.
Or you can try the simple straight ruler test. Take a ruler and hold it vertically downwards. Position it against your nose. If you have a sharp nose, the ruler shouldn’t hit any other part of your face. But if it touches your lips, then they could be protruded.
While self-evaluation provides initial insights, consulting an expert can offer a better assessment of your condition. A dentist, orthodontist, or cosmetic surgeon can provide a more comprehensive diagnosis and suggest corrective measures to get you smiling confidently again.
They can also help determine potential issues related to facial bone structure, muscle tone, and dental alignment that may contribute to the prominence of your lips. Beyond teeth or jaw structure, other possible concerns are genetics, childhood habits like thumb-sucking, a protruding tongue, and, in some cases, a cyst or tumour in the mouth or jaw.
Seeking professional guidance is crucial for understanding the factors causing your lips to protrude.
Is there hope for your protruded lips?
Can protruding lips be fixed or at least improved? The answer is a resounding yes! The good news is there are ways to enhance the appearance of your lips so you can smile with renewed confidence.
Consult your dentist or doctor for the best action plan for your specific condition. They will likely provide options ranging from muscle training to cosmetic surgery like lip reduction or reshaping. Again, seek professional advice to ensure treatment is safe and appropriate.
Ways to even out protruded lips
So how can protruding lips be fixed? What solutions is a doctor, dentist, or orthodontist likely to suggest?
Because the causes of protruded lips will vary from patient to patient, dental and health practitioners may suggest different ways to fix this. If the problem stems from an issue with teeth alignment, the solution will address that particular issue.
If your protruding mouth is caused by prognathism or a protruding jaw, this may require a mandibular setback surgery. The most common types of surgeries for a protruding jaw are sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO). However, mild jaw protrusion may also be treated with orthodontics.
Can orthodontics help treat protruding lips?
Yes, a protruding mouth may result from uneven or crooked teeth. But studies from the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics reveal the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment in correcting lip protrusion.
If you wear braces as a treatment, your lips may appear to stick out further because of the wires and brackets. You may want to consider a more comfortable and discreet approach to straightening your teeth with dental aligners.
Explore options like ClearCorrect, which offers the necessary treatment without causing your lips to protrude. These virtually invisible aligners’ high, flat and unscalloped trimline helps optimise the process of teeth alignment. And because they’re removable and made with a resilient tri-layer ClearQuartz material custom-fitted to you, they offer maximum comfort and convenience. Take this online smile assessment to find out if you’re a candidate.
Protruding lips may seem harmless, but they can signal an underlying condition that needs attention, like a misaligned bite. If you’re self-conscious about a pout that sticks out, remember there are ways to achieve a balanced, beautiful grin. Consult your dentist to identify the culprit behind the facial feature and determine a treatment plan so you can reclaim your confident smile.
References:
Ballester Ferrandis, Jose Francisco & Martinez-Soriano, Francisco & Vega, Maria & Ferrandis, Juan. (2018). Assessment of facial harmony among Caucasian Spaniards 18 to 60 years of age and its relationship with the golden ratio. European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 41. 10.1007/s00238-017-1348-1.
Bellamine, M., & Ousehal, L. (2014). Treatment of a case of a Class III bimaxillary protrusion. Journal of Dentofacial Anomalies and Orthodontics, 17(1), 108.
Chang, H., Tseng, Y., & Chang, H. (2006). Treatment of mandibular prognathism. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 105(10), 781–90.
Gick, B., Mayer, C., Chiu, C., Widing, E., Roewer-Després, F., Fels, S., & Stavness, I. (2020). Quantal biomechanical effects in speech postures of the lips. Journal of Neurophysiology, 124(3), 833–843.
Hong, R., & Ahn, J. (2021). Correction of a gummy smile and lip protrusion by orthodontic retreatment with lingual appliances and temporary skeletal anchorage devices. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 160(4), 603–616.
Partal, I., & Aksu, M. (2017). Changes in lips, cheeks and tongue pressures after upper incisor protrusion in Class II division 2 malocclusion: a prospective study. Progress in Orthodontics, 18(1).
Rajandram, R. K., Ponnuthurai, L., Mugunam, K., & Chan, Y. S. (2023). Management of bimaxillary protrusion. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, 35(1), 23–35.
