Therapy · Frequently asked questions
Good question.Briefly explained.
Which FaceFormer, how often to practise, what to do if it falls out at night? Here you will find the questions our support team hears most often, with short answers and links to the detailed pages.
At a glance
The three key answers
Start with the ZERO
ZERO and ONE are the same size and shape. The ZERO is simply softer. You start with it. After a few weeks you train with the ONE during the day, while the ZERO stays your night-time device. ZERO and ONE as a set in the shop
Three times a day, a few minutes
Regular, clean repetitions matter more than strength. The free app guides you through the basic exercises, counts along and reminds you of your sessions.
Give the pattern time
Lots of saliva, pressure on the teeth or a FaceFormer on the pillow are common at the start. The training is designed to run over several months until the new pattern works on its own.
The device
Device, material and care
What is the difference between FaceFormer ZERO and ONE?
Shape and size are identical. The only difference is the hardness of the material. The yellow ZERO is softer, the ONE in blue or clear is firmer. More on this on the page Material and manufacturing.
Which FaceFormer do I start with, and when do I switch?
You always start with the ZERO. After a few weeks, the ONE takes over daytime training, while you continue to wear the ZERO at night. This is why adults usually use both, while children up to the age of ten train with the ZERO throughout. It is best to agree on the timing of the switch with your practice.
Is the FaceFormer available in different sizes?
No, it only comes in one universal size, including for children. The highly elastic membrane adapts to different jaw shapes and tooth positions. If it feels big or unfamiliar at first, that is normal. The softer ZERO makes getting started easier.
Can I trim the FaceFormer if it presses or rubs?
As a rule, no, because the one-size design is made for children and adults alike. If the mouth shield is cut smaller, the negative pressure in the mouth and throat on which the exercises are based can no longer build up. One exception is the marked triangle on the edge of the mouth shield, at the level of the lip frenulum. If your upper lip frenulum attaches low and rubs against the FaceFormer, cut out exactly this triangle with fine, very sharp scissors.
If you are unsure, get in touch with us beforehand.
What material is the FaceFormer made of? Does it contain latex or BPA?
It is made of the medical-grade liquid silicone LSR 4030, tested for biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 and USP Class VI. It is free from latex, BPA, phthalates and plasticisers. The FaceFormer is a CE-marked Class I medical device, manufactured by Dr. Berndsen GmbH in Unna.
How do I clean the FaceFormer?
Rinse it under warm water after each training session and in the morning after the night, pat it dry and place it in the hygiene box. Every now and then, for example when you have a cold, you can place it in boiling water for around 20 seconds. Everyone uses their own FaceFormer.
The FaceFormer tastes or smells unusual. Is that normal?
This rarely happens. Rinse it thoroughly or boil it briefly; the impression usually fades over time. If it persists, get in touch with us and have the packaging to hand, as the batch number is on the sticker.
How long does a FaceFormer last?
With good care, usually until the end of therapy. If it is damaged, for example by biting on it, replace it, because the membrane must be intact.
My FaceFormer has small cracks. Can I keep using it?
In that case, replace it. The silicone is very durable, but not indestructible, and a crack can tear further and is hard to clean. The most common cause is bite marks on the mouth shield: biting on the mouth shield and then pulling, which happens mainly with children, puts strain on the edges and on the base of the lip wedge. Inserted correctly, the FaceFormer sits in the oral vestibule in front of the teeth, and then no bite marks occur. With good care, it usually lasts until the end of the therapy.
Training and exercises
How to train correctly
Do I need a therapist?
Not necessarily. With the free app and the exercise pages, you can also train on your own. A practice is advisable if you are not making progress, want to have complaints checked or would like professional support. The practice carries out an assessment, puts together the right modules and corrects your technique. You can find practices near you in the practitioner directory. The exercises are also explained on this website and in the app.
How often and for how long do I train each day?
Three times a day for a few minutes, spread across morning, midday and evening. The basic exercise starts with 8 repetitions per session, in week 2 it is 14, and from week 3 onwards 20. From week 3, the pull exercise is added. More than three sessions a day are not necessary. Regularity is what counts.
Where is the tongue during the exercises?
The tip of the tongue rests on the small ridge on the palate, a few millimetres behind the upper front teeth, without touching the teeth. It stays there throughout the exercise, and you breathe through your nose. Explained step by step in the Basics.
What is the “tongue resting posture”?
Many people search for the “tongue resting posture”. There is no resting posture in the strict sense, because the tongue is constantly involved in swallowing, breathing and speaking. What is meant is the place it keeps returning to: the tongue reference position. The tip of the tongue rests on the small ridge behind the upper front teeth, the lips rest lightly together, and air flows through the nose. This is where you train from.
How hard do I need to press and pull?
What counts is the correct sequence, not strength. When you bite together, the back teeth touch only briefly and then loosely separate again. Only pull as hard as your lips can hold the FaceFormer securely. Over time, the pull may increase slightly.
How long does the therapy take overall?
This varies greatly and depends mainly on how long a pattern has existed. The basic training is designed to last several months. Many people train for six months to a year until the new pattern runs without conscious attention.
When will I notice something?
There is no general answer. It depends on how pronounced and how long-standing a pattern is and how regularly you train. How a newly learned pattern can be recognised is described on the page How does FaceFormer therapy work?
I haven’t trained for a few days. Do I have to start again from the beginning?
No. A short break, for example on holiday or during an infection, is not a problem. Pick up where you left off and continue regularly as soon as possible.
Can I also wear the FaceFormer while doing other things, for example during sport?
Yes. After three to four weeks of training, you can also wear it in everyday life without exercising, for example at your desk, while reading or during sport. Under exertion, nasal breathing is often difficult at first. This does not replace the daily exercises.
Do I have to bite down and swallow with every exercise?
Yes, that is part of the sequence, not an optional extra. After the lip pressure or the pull, you briefly bite down with your back teeth and swallow while the tension is still there. Only then do you relax, keeping your lips closed. Natural swallowing is preceded by brief tooth contact, and you repeat exactly this sequence until it also happens by itself during sleep. If it feels uncomfortable, bite down only lightly: it is about the contact, not about force. The exact sequence is shown in the basic exercise.
Is it enough to wear the FaceFormer only at night?
No. The night consolidates what you train during the day; it does not replace the training. New movement patterns develop through repetition: a few minutes of basic and pull exercises three times a day, plus the ZERO at night. If you only wear it at night, you are more likely to get used to lip closure and nasal breathing, but you will not specifically train your tongue, swallowing sequence and head balance. If you find it hard to keep going: the free FaceFormer app guides you through the basic exercises and reminds you.
The first weeks
When it feels unfamiliar at first
Why reactions at the start are, as a rule, adaptation is explained in “Initial worsening” during training.
I have a lot of saliva in my mouth during training. Am I doing something wrong?
No, this is common at the beginning, especially if you previously breathed a lot through your mouth. Collect the saliva on your tongue before swallowing and swallow it down with the exercise; after all, swallowing is part of the training.
I feel a pulling sensation like sore muscles. Is that normal?
This can happen in the first few weeks, as with any unfamiliar training. Make sure you use clean technique without excessive force and increase the repetitions slowly. If the discomfort persists or gets worse, speak to your practice.
I gag when swallowing. What can I do?
The FaceFormer sits in the oral vestibule in front of the teeth and does not reach into the throat. If you still feel a gagging sensation when swallowing, start with a few repetitions and little force and increase gradually in small steps. Many people find swallowing with the FaceFormer difficult at first; after about two weeks it usually goes much better. If it remains difficult, speak to your practice.
The inside of my lip is irritated. What helps?
If your lips stick to the membrane at night, sting in the morning or show a reddened pressure spot, apply a thin layer of lip balm, Vaseline or a little cooking oil to the inside and outside of the mouth shield before inserting it. The thin film reduces friction in an area that saliva behind the mouth shield barely reaches. If a spot is sore, take a break until it is fine again.
My nose is blocked. Can I still train?
If you have an acute cold, take a short break and continue as soon as your nose is clear again. If you generally find nasal breathing difficult, keep training during the day first so that it becomes easier before you wear the FaceFormer at night. If your nose is persistently blocked, have it checked by a doctor.
At night
The FaceFormer at night
When do I start wearing the FaceFormer at night?
Usually from around the third week of training, when nasal breathing becomes easier. You are welcome to try it earlier. At night you always wear the softer ZERO, and no exercises are done. More on this under Night-time use.
In the morning the FaceFormer is lying next to my pillow. What am I doing wrong?
Nothing. This is typical in the first weeks. During sleep, old patterns such as mouth breathing take over, and you pull it out unconsciously. Put it back in every evening. As training progresses, in many people it stays in the mouth for longer and longer.
At night the FaceFormer presses on my incisors. Is that harmful?
A feeling of pressure on the incisors is common at the beginning. The negative pressure makes the membrane rest against the rows of teeth, and the forces involved are far lower than those during chewing. Protruding teeth feel this more strongly. If it is too uncomfortable, skip night-time use for a while, keep training during the day and gradually work your way back to it later.
Can I swallow the FaceFormer in my sleep?
The membrane sits in the oral vestibule in front of the teeth, and the lip wedge protrudes outwards between the lips. If the FaceFormer comes loose during sleep, it slips outwards and is usually lying on the pillow in the morning.
What does the FaceFormer do at night if I am not exercising at all?
At night it is not about exercises but about habit. The FaceFormer keeps your lips closed so that you breathe through your nose and your tongue stays in its reference position against the palate. Every time you swallow in your sleep, negative pressure develops in the mouth that draws the tongue up to the palate. In this way, what you practise during the day continues unconsciously at night. At night you always wear the softer ZERO. More on this under Night-time use.
Children
When your child trains
Everything else for parents: FaceFormer for children.
From what age can my child train?
Children up to the age of ten train with the softer FaceFormer ZERO. For young children, the practice decides when to start and in what form training takes place. From around the age of ten, the ONE is also an option. Younger children often cannot yet manage the exercises with it as described.
Is there a children’s FaceFormer?
No. Children and adults use the same one-size-fits-all device, and the softer ZERO is recommended for children. The children’s set contains the ZERO with a hygiene box, plush pouch and success book with a stamp. The device inside is the same.
How often does a child practise?
Children have their own plan, which the practice adapts. As a guide, the guidelines suggest 5 basic and 5 pull exercises, three times a day, in the first two weeks, 10 of each in weeks 3 and 4, and 20 of each from week 5.
My child doesn’t feel like it. How do we keep going?
A playful approach usually works better than a strict one. Practise together as a fixed ritual, collect stamps or stars for each session and praise small steps forward. For the night, it helps to wear the FaceFormer only briefly before falling asleep at first and to increase the time slowly.
My child has bitten a piece out of the FaceFormer. Is that a material or manufacturing defect?
No. When inserted correctly, the FaceFormer sits in the oral vestibule, between the lips and front teeth, and your child cannot bite into the mouth shield there. However, some children clamp it between their teeth and pull hard on the lip wedge. If this is repeated often, small pieces can tear out of the medical silicone. Bite damage of this kind is caused by incorrect use and is not a product defect. Make sure your child inserts the FaceFormer correctly. Small indentations on the mouth shield or lip wedge will show you if your child is chewing on it after all.
Is it harmful if my child wears the FaceFormer at night for months?
No, long-term night-time use is intended. Children wear the softer ZERO at night for several months so that lip closure and nasal breathing become established during sleep. For children who used to suck their thumb, it is often a good substitute when falling asleep. You do not need to wean your child off it deliberately: if your child also sleeps with their mouth closed without it, it can gradually be left out. Discuss the timing with the supervising practice.
Complaints and other treatments
Together with other treatments
Does the FaceFormer help with snoring, craniomandibular dysfunction (TMD) or tinnitus?
Snoring, jaw joint problems and tinnitus are among the areas in which FaceFormer therapy is used. Whether your complaints are related to breathing, swallowing and head balance can be shown by an assessment in a practice. The training corrects these basic functions and creates the conditions for complaints to be able to improve. How far this succeeds depends on many factors. You can find an overview under Where is FaceFormer therapy used?
Does the training replace medical treatment?
No, it complements them. Please do not stop medically prescribed treatments such as a splint, a breathing therapy device or braces on your own initiative.
Can I use the FaceFormer with braces?
Yes, you can train alongside both fixed and removable braces. With fixed brackets, a little dental wax protects the FaceFormer and makes training more comfortable. Discuss the process with your orthodontic practice.
I wear an occlusal splint at night. How does that fit together?
You don’t wear the splint and the FaceFormer in your mouth at the same time. We take a critical view of splints. The lower jaw is guided by muscles: the tongue, lips, chewing muscles and neck. A splint imposes a position on it from the outside, but it does not change this guidance. It is precisely this guidance that we adjust with the training. During the day, you train as usual. Do not stop a prescribed splint on your own initiative: discuss with your dentist whether the FaceFormer takes its place at night.
I wear a retainer or aligners. Can I still train?
Yes, you can train during the day. Wearing a retainer and the FaceFormer at the same time at night is not intended. How to combine the two in terms of timing is something to clarify with your orthodontic practice. Do not stop wearing a prescribed retainer on your own initiative.
I use a CPAP device at night. Can I use the FaceFormer?
Training during the day is possible regardless. Please discuss with your sleep medicine specialist whether and when you also wear the FaceFormer at night. Do not stop a prescribed breathing therapy device on your own initiative.
I have dentures or implants, or I’ve had jaw surgery. Can I train?
FaceFormer therapy is also used with dental prosthetics and implants, as well as before and after surgery on the face and jaw. How and from when you train depends on your treatment. Discuss this with your practice beforehand or call us on 02303 89991.
What about Eagle syndrome?
In most cases we consider the diagnosis a false conclusion. An elongated styloid process of the temporal bone is an X-ray finding that many people have without ever noticing any symptoms. The length of the bone therefore rarely explains the pain. What matters is how the head, hyoid bone and jaw are held by the muscles. If head balance and the swallowing sequence are disturbed, the muscles and ligaments in this area come under constant tension. This is exactly where the training comes in. Sudden severe swallowing difficulties or swelling on one side of the neck should nevertheless be checked by a doctor.
Purchase, app and costs
App, costs and ordering
Is there a FaceFormer app?
Yes, the FaceFormer app is free for iPhone and Android. It guides you through the basic exercises, counts along and reminds you of your sessions. You can find further modules such as the AirFlip with 3D animation on the exercise pages. More about the FaceFormer app.
Does German statutory health insurance cover the costs?
German statutory health insurance generally does not cover the FaceFormer itself. Whether accompanying treatment at a practice can be billed is something to clarify with the practice and your health insurer. More on this: Is the FaceFormer covered by German statutory health insurance?
Where can I get the FaceFormer?
In the online shop of Dr. Berndsen GmbH at drberndsen.de, with free shipping. You can also buy it at a pharmacy or have the pharmacy order it for you. You can see the current prices at the bottom of this page.
Can I return the FaceFormer?
The FaceFormer is a hygiene product for use in the mouth and is delivered sealed. As long as the seal is intact, you can withdraw from the purchase just as with any other item. Once opened, it cannot be returned for hygiene reasons. You can find all the details in the cancellation policy.
What does FaceFormer therapy cost?
Essentially, the device. The FaceFormer ZERO and the ONE each cost 39.90 euros in the shop, and both together in the starter set cost 64.33 euros, with free shipping. The exercise instructions are included and the app is free, so you can train independently. If you would like support, you will find practices familiar with the therapy in the practitioner directory. Their fees depend on the individual practice. Whether German statutory health insurance covers any of the costs is explained on the page Cost coverage.
Get started
Ready for the training?
The free FaceFormer app guides you through the basic exercises, counts along and reminds you of your sessions. If you wish, a practice from the practitioner directory can support you.
FaceFormer ZERO + ONE
Both material hardnesses for getting started, day and night. The set for adults.
FaceFormer ZERO
The softer FaceFormer for getting started, for children and for the night.
FaceFormer ZERO Children’s Set
ZERO with hygiene box, plush bag and success book with stamp.
FaceFormer training aims to restore the physiological setting of the basic functions of breathing, swallowing and head balance, with lip closure and the tongue reference position, thereby creating the conditions under which symptoms can improve. It does not replace a medical assessment. You can find practitioners near you in the practitioner directory.