The impact of oronasal breathing on perioral musculature

ABSTRACT Purpose: to compare the behavior of perioral muscles in nasal, oral and oronasal respirators. Methods: a sample consisting of three distinct groups, equally subdivided into Nasal, Oral and Oronasal Respirators. The behavior of the orbicular muscle of the mouth (upper part) and mentual one was measured by surface electromyography at rest, swallowing and labial isometry. Results: in all situations investigated, the orbicular muscle of the mouth (upper part) and mental muscle showed no significant difference in relation to Root Means Square, that is, average electrical activity between Oral and Oronasal Respirators. The data showed a significant difference in In Nasal Respirators, as compared to the other groups. Conclusion: similarity was seen in the comparison of perioral muscles behavior between oral and oronasal respirators, however, a significant difference in relation to nasal respirators.