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Myofunctional Therapy at Dakota Dental

Home Myofunctional Therapy at Dakota Dental

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

According to the Breathe Institute, Myofunctional Therapy involves the use of “highly effective physical therapy exercises to improve breathing, bite, and orofacial posture.” It is a non-invasive, affordable treatment option to help train our muscles to work in the way that they were designed.

Beginning as early as infancy, normal biological functions, such as swallowing, suction, mastication, and nasal breathing, all play an essential role in future orofacial development.

And because these habits begin at such an early age, they help strengthen the muscles within the face, mouth and throat—as well as the tongue—to align in a better biting position and balance each other, which help us eat, sleep, speak, and breathe naturally.

When orofacial muscles do not develop properly, however, patients may experience a variety of oral health issues, facial distortions, and breathing difficulties that may require extensive, and often invasive, dental procedures.

What Are Myofunctional Therapy Exercises?

Myofunctional Therapy involves a series of facial and tongue techniques, as well as behavior modifications, to improve the tongue’s resting position in the mouth (IAOMT), as well as strengthen the range of motion of the jaw, cheeks, and lips.

The placement of an individual’s tongue can significantly impact facial growth, oral health, and airway development (Breathe Institute). And if the tongue, mouth, and throat are not working in relationship to each other, patients may develop improper oral muscle function, which can lead to headaches, impaired airway clearance, TMJ dysfunction, and other Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD).

Myofunctional Therapy is an Adjunct for the Treatment of Several Disorders.

According to the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (AOMT), the ability to swallow is dependent on the body’s biological balance, and because the average person will swallow around 500-1,000 times a day, this specific function can lead to several health and behavioral issues for both children and adults.

AOMT breaks down the following health problems that may develop from OMD:

Tongue Thrust: When a patient swallows incorrectly, the tongue may press against the back of the teeth or push teeth out of place. For children, the pressure may even prevent teeth from breaking through the gums.

Facial Distortion: Known as malocclusion, patients may develop a misalignment of their upper and lower teeth. And when oral posture is incorrect, patients may also experience the following facial changes:

  • Dull, sluggish appearance (due to weak facial muscles)
  • Parted Lips
  • Facial grimace (the tightening of the cheeks, chin, and lips)

Lisp: When your tongue and lip muscles are abnormally postured, you may develop a lisp or have trouble forming sounds in regular speech.

Sleep Apnea: When orofacial muscles are weak or underdeveloped, they may disrupt regular airflow, causing patients to experience sleep disordered breathing (i.e. snoring or sleep apnea).

Is Myofunctional Therapy Only for Children?

Both children and adults can benefit from Myofunctional Therapy.

Though orofacial development is greatly impacted by early childhood behaviors and habits, some adults may develop OMDs later in life, due to late jaw growth or tooth loss. An adult patient may also have a lisp or begin experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea and is looking to correct the issue for overall health and wellness.

In addition to its health and wellness benefits, according to AOMT, “[Myofunctional Therapy] may also be an alternative or adjunctive treatment to facial plastic surgery, to help get rid of lines and saggy facial muscles…”

Myofunctional Therapy at Dakota Dental

At Dakota Dental, we take a whole health approach to your dental wellness.

To learn more about Myofunctional Therapy or for a referral to a Myofunctional Therapist, contact our team today!

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