Crooked smile/smirk? Or Bell’s Palsy?

[onthemove]

About 2 months ago we noticed that my daughter (3) was sometimes holding her mouth in a funny half smirk or what I can only describe as a half cheesy smile when she talked or smiled. We never mentioned it to her, I assumed it was kind of like a tic she would grow out of. It seemed to go away for a bit but now is back this week. She is behind on her sleep this week as she has to get up earlier for daycare because my DH has a special job he’s working right now. So could it be something that happens when she is tired? I didn’t think much of it but now I’m looking at Bell’s Palsy pictures - I didn’t know kids could get it. It’s that type of mouth, but it’s never affected her eye/mouth function like chewing or taste, and it seems to come and go. Writing this out does make me think I should call the nurse line, but I’m still interested in the board’s thoughts!

[af1212]

This is very random and probably not what you are dealing with, but my daughter did this at the age of 3. She would talk out of the side of her mouth and make a lopsided smile. But it was inconsistent when she would do it.

We were puzzled by it and mentioned it to her dr who was also puzzled but didn’t think we should pursue outside tests or anything at the time.

Anyway fast forward to her winter concert/party at preschool when we realized that her preschool teacher talked like this!!

She had that teacher for two years and did it off and on that whole time and then covid happened and then she got a new teacher and now she is almost 6 and I had completely forgotten about it.

So obviously u likely but anyone she hangs out with that she could be mimicking?

[VillainV]

I make lopsided facial expressions, especially when I’m not paying close attention (for example, when I smile for a photo it’s mostly symmetrical, but my natural smile when I’m not trying is asymmetrical). My sister does too, though not as much as me. Maybe we were around someone when we were young who did this?

If you’re really concerned, ask your pedi for an opinion. There’s definitely a chance that it’s nothing to worry about.

[kath16]

a friend's kid had bells palsy from Lyme's that only visibly impacted his smile.

idk. i think it's worth getting advice about and getting it checked. for him it was his only outward sign of Lyme's

[twilightmv]

Ask your doctor, of course. That being said, when DH had bells palsy, one whole half of his face was frozen and then movement started to come back. It wasn't a thing that came and went, and the whole side of his face was impacted (including his eye).

[wanderingback]

Yes kids can get Bell's Palsy. It's caused by inflammation of the facial nerve, so anyone can get inflammation.
The symptoms of  Bell's Palsy don't come and go though, so it doesn't sound like that is what's going on. Typically Bell's Palsy happens acutely, the symptoms will be there and they will slowly improve. Improvement can take weeks to months, but it's not like the pattern is paralysis then no paralysis and then paralysis again the next day. Some people do have some mild long term residual symptoms though that remain.
I would take a picture and talk to your kid's doctor about it. 

[onthemove]

Thanks everyone. I called this morning she has an appointment for the middle of next week so I’ll just keep trying to catch it and note when it happens and take casual pictures. This is more difficult for me because I don’t want her to become self-conscious about it. My mom did have Bell’s palsy, I just didn’t think about that or other nerve problem at all until I googled crooked smile and it came up as a possibility.

[madringal]

Does her ever eye droop as well? Any weakness in her face/neck/hands? I was recently diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, and the mouth droop was my first real symptom. It is pretty rare, but does appear in children as well. It is a pretty simple blood panel to test for it, but I have found a LOT of people really have to fight for it. I saw two neurologists who never even considered I had MG. Thankfully my sister, an optometrist, was very familiar with it and had my cousin, an MD, order the bloodwork.

[onthemove]

I think I have been describing it wrong. When her face is relaxed, it’s totally normal. When she smiles, it’s like a half smile where she only smiles with half of her mouth. Like an odd smirk. She does sometimes seem to talk a little more out of only one side of her mouth. I tried to get her to play with her eyebrows as a game, and one does seem to move more than the other, but that is not apparent unless you are 100% focused on looking at it and she is trying to move them a lot.

I really do appreciate the input.

[devonpow]

Is she able to smile with both sides if she wants? DS1s good friend has a “crooked smile” due to a (benign) tumor on the facial nerve there. But he has always had it and it’s definitely not something that comes and goes.

[hazelden]

Can she make a kissy face? Or try to whistle? I had facial paralysis due to shingles (Ramsey Hunt syndrome) and I couldn't pucker my lips on one side of my face, or suck out of a straw. A coworker with Bell's Palsy is the one that asked me to whistle, and then told me to get to the Dr asap! My face went back to normal really quickly after getting more antibiotics.

[onthemove]

Sept 10, 2021 16:03:51 GMT -5 hazelden said:

Can she make a kissy face? Or try to whistle? I had facial paralysis due to shingles (Ramsey Hunt syndrome) and I couldn't pucker my lips on one side of my face, or suck out of a straw. A coworker with Bell's Palsy is the one that asked me to whistle, and then told me to get to the Dr asap! My face went back to normal really quickly after getting more antibiotics.

Yes! I just made her do fish kisses, and she was able to do it.