273. Dr. Staci Whitman: The Surprising Oral Causes Behind Facial Asymmetry and How Your Face Ages | Part 2

You probably know which side of your face you prefer in photos. One jawline may look sharper. One cheek may sit differently. One under-eye may look darker. And while some facial asymmetry is completely normal, the way you use your mouth can also influence how the two sides of your face function over time.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Staci Whitman, we look at facial aging from inside the mouth. We get into how one-sided chewing, bite patterns, tongue function, palate width, airway health, and jaw structure can influence facial symmetry and the way changes become visible in the face. We also explore what adults can realistically do when the issue is structural rather than purely cosmetic. Dr. Staci breaks down the conversations happening around mastic gum, myofunctional therapy, palate expansion, MARPE, oral appliances, and tongue-tie releases, including why changing the way the mouth functions is much more complicated than trying the latest jawline trend online.

Dr. Staci Whitman is a board-certified pediatric dentist and Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner whose work focuses on functional dentistry, airway health, craniofacial development, the oral microbiome, and the mouth-body connection. She is the co-founder of the Institute for Functional Dentistry and founder of Bloom + Brighten.

What’s Discussed:

[1:37] Why persistent dark under-eyes may sometimes point to airway issues, inflammation, and facial structure rather than pigmentation alone.

[3:32] What happens to the jaw and the bones supporting the face as we age.

[6:44] How chewing predominantly on one side may contribute to differences between the two sides of the face.

[10:55] What your chewing patterns, saliva, and cavities may reveal about how you are using your mouth.

[17:09] Whether mastic gum and jaw exercises can actually change the appearance of an adult face.

[20:00] How tongue function, swallowing, and breathing are addressed through myofunctional therapy.

[21:50] Why a narrow palate may require more than simply changing your tongue position.

[22:30] What adults should know about palate expansion, MARPE, and oral appliances.

[31:26] Why finding a tongue tie does not automatically mean releasing it is the first step.

[40:49] Who to see when you suspect your bite, tongue, airway, or jaw function may be affecting your face.

Listen to this episode of Biohacking Beauty to learn why facial asymmetry may be giving you clues about what is happening inside your mouth.

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Find more from Dr. Staci Whitman:

Website: doctorstaci.com

Instagram: @doctor_staci

TikTok: @doctor_staci

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/

Book: SPIT: Why Your Mouth-and Its Microbes-Are the Secret to Whole-Body, Lifelong Health

Read Dr. Staci’s newsletter: substack.com/@doctorstaci

Find an oral-systemic health practitioner through AAOSH: aaosh.org/find-a-practitioner

Search the IAOMT directory for a biological dentist or health professional: iaomt.org/for-patients/Search/?ppage=dashboard

Find an airway-focused practitioner through AAPMD: aapmd.org/find-aapmd-professional

Search The Breathe Institute provider directory: breatheops.com/directory/the-breathe-institute

Learn more about the Institute for Functional Dentistry: functionaldentistry.org/