Episode 2: Busting 7 Myths About Clefts

January, 2026

At Youth for Global Smiles, we believe that awareness is key to supporting the cleft community. For our second episode of Cleft Conversations: Myth Busting, our members and officers worked together to separate fact from fiction about clefts. Here’s what we learned:

Myth: Cleft lip and palate are rare conditions.
Truth: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common birth differences worldwide, affecting approximately 1 in 700 births.

Myth: All clefts look the same.
Truth: Clefts range widely in type and severity, from a small notch in the lip to a complete cleft of the lip and palate. No two cases are identical.

Myth: Clefts are caused by the mother's actions during pregnancy.
Truth: Most cases of cleft lip and palate occur randomly with no identifiable cause. Some cases are linked to genetics or environmental factors, not the mother’s actions.

Myth: Clefts are only an "aesthetic problem."
Truth: Having a cleft lip and/or palate goes beyond appearances alone. Clefts come with many challenges. For example, many people born with clefts have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.

Myth: Surgery Is a One-Time Fix.
Truth: Although cleft surgery is highly effective, it’s only part of a longer journey. Many children undergo several procedures, such as speech therapy and orthodontics, throughout their childhood to improve function and appearance.

Myth: Clefts always leave a big scar.
Truth: The severity of the child’s cleft lip will help dictate just how much scarring they may have. In many instances, the child’s surgical scar will drastically fade after a few years and may even go almost entirely away as they reach their teenage years or adulthood.

Myth: People born with clefts aren’t as intelligent or capable.
Truth: Cleft lip and palate do not affect intelligence. People with clefts have the same range of abilities, talents, and potential as anyone else. Cleft lip and palate affect facial development, not the brain.

We hope that we were able to break some of the hurtful stereotypes and misconceptions that surround the cleft community, and we are proud to work with members, officers, and the community to spread accurate information and empower those affected by clefts.