At Thompson Advanced Dentistry, we believe that a healthy smile goes beyond straight teeth and a beautiful appearance. The way we breathe, chew, swallow, speak, and position our tongue can have a significant impact on our oral health, airway function, and overall well-being.
That’s why we’re excited to offer Myofunctional Therapy as part of our comprehensive dental care!
What Is Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a personalized program of exercises and techniques designed to improve the function and coordination of the face, mouth, and tongue muscles. These muscles play an important role in everyday functions, including: nasal breathing, swallowing, lip seal, speech and oral habits, jaw stability and function, posture, and so much more. When these muscles are not working together efficiently, certain patterns can develop that may contribute to oral health concerns and affect overall function. Myofunctional therapy helps identify and address these patterns by retraining the muscles to support healthier, more functional habits.
Signs You or Your Child May Benefit from Myofunctional Therapy
Orofacial myofunctional disorders can present differently in children and adults. In children, some of the earliest signs can appear during infancy, particularly with feeding difficulties related to tethered oral tissues. As they grow, crowded baby teeth, misaligned jaws, open-mouth posture, and mouth breathing may indicate concerns with proper oral function and facial development. We also screen for enlarged tonsils that may obstruct the airway and make nasal breathing difficult. Does your child breathe through their mouth or nose? Do they snore or grind their teeth while sleeping? These can all be signs that your child may be struggling with breathing and normal oral function.
As adults, we often learn to compensate for our orofacial myofunctional disorders over time by using other facial muscles to help us function. These compensations can contribute to jaw, head, and neck pain. We screen adult patients for signs of sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and mouth breathing. Poor oral health, including frequent cavities and gum disease, can also be associated with these patterns. Whether you are concerned about your child’s growth and development or experiencing symptoms yourself, identifying these signs is an important first step in determining whether myofunctional therapy may be beneficial.
How Does Myofunctional Therapy Support Dental Health?
The tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw all play a role in the development and function of the oral cavity. Their resting posture and movement can influence oral function and work alongside dental and orthodontic treatment.
Myofunctional therapy may help support:
- Orthodontic Treatment: Establishing healthier oral muscle patterns and tongue posture may help support orthodontic treatment and long-term stability.
- Airway Health: Encouraging nasal breathing, when appropriate, and establishing healthy oral resting posture can support better breathing habits. Myofunctional therapy may also be used as an adjunct to treatment for certain sleep-related breathing disorders.
- Swallowing Function: Therapy works to improve coordination and establish a more functional swallowing pattern.
- Oral Resting Posture: Developing awareness of proper tongue posture, lip seal, and nasal breathing helps establish healthier habits throughout the day and night.
- Overall Oral Function: Improving muscle coordination can support the way the mouth, tongue, lips, and jaw work together.
What Does Myofunctional Therapy Look Like?
Myofunctional therapy is individualized to each patient’s needs and goals. Treatment typically begins with a comprehensive evaluation of oral structures, muscle function, breathing patterns, swallowing, and resting posture.
Based on the evaluation, a personalized treatment plan is created. Therapy may include: tongue posture awareness and tongue strengthening and coordination exercises, lip seal and facial muscle exercises, chewing and swallowing retraining, and nasal hygiene and nasal breathing exercises. Consistency is key! Patients are given exercises to practice at home between appointments. Over time, these exercises help build awareness, coordination, and healthier functional patterns.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Oral Function
Whether you’re concerned about mouth breathing, tongue posture, swallowing, sleep quality, or your child’s oral development, myofunctional therapy may be worth exploring.
Our goal is to help patients of all ages develop healthier oral habits and improve the way their oral muscles function.
Interested in learning whether myofunctional therapy is right for you or your child? Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about this exciting addition to our comprehensive approach to dental care!
