Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders(OMDs) are any atypical muscle patterns of the orofacial complex.  An improper balance or habit of these muscles may affect facial growth and development, breathing, speech, chewing, swallowing, dental development, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial tone and more. 

Common symptoms of untreated OMDs include:

  • Changes in facial development and features including a long, narrow face, smaller jaws, narrow palate, dental crowding, flatter facial features and downward turned eyes

  • Mouth breathing: difficulty breathing through the nose

  • Poor posture - postural tension, forward head posture, tension headaches and/or neck pain

  • Trouble with chewing food and swallowing: messy or noisy eating, food management, difficulty keeping lips closed while eating

  • Poor sleep quality

  • Speech problems

  • Orthodontic relapse: shifting of teeth

  • TMJ (jaw) pain

  • Chronic Headaches

  • Teeth grinding or clenching

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

As an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, we identify and help to address muscular dysfunctions and parafunctional habits. After an initial assessment is complete, a customized therapy program will be designed to meet your specific individual needs. Treatment length will vary depending on the severity of the disorder(s).

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy(OMT) can be defined as physical therapy for the oral and facial musculature which is used to identify and address orofacial myofunctional disorders(OMDs). Myofunctional disorders may include: mouth breathing, snoring, atypical swallowing pattern(tongue thrust), atypical chewing patterns, restricted tethered oral tissues(tongue/lip ties), lip incompetence(lips apart) and oral habits(thumbsucking/nail biting).

Our Myofunctional Therapy Wellness programs provide customized orofacial myofunctional exercises to rehabilitate the oral and facial muscles related to proper tongue placement, breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing and facial development. When orofacial muscles rest and function in the proper way, we can see improvements in breathing, eating, swallowing, quality of sleep and posture at all ages.

In children, myofunctional therapy helps to instil healthy habits for life. Poor functional patterns such as an incorrect oral rest tongue posture, tongue thrust (reverse swallow) pattern, open mouth breathing, restricted tongue/lip ties, lack of chewing or low muscle tone all restrict facial growth and development.

In adults, poor breathing habits such as mouth breathing, is a consequence of having a low tone tongue, or a restriction in the tongue. Myofunctional therapy can be beneficial for those suffering with TMD and/or TMJ jaw muscle pain, head and neck aches and those with obstructive sleep apnea.

Myofunctional therapy helps to address the “root cause” of problems, not just the symptoms. The first step is to identify compensations of the jaw and the neck during chewing, talking, and swallowing to help to alleviate pain and dysfunction.

THE 4 MAIN GOALS OF MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY

Achieving these goals will help to strengthen and tone the muscles of the tongue and orofacial complex.

  1. Lip Seal at Rest

  2. Exclusive Nasal Breathing

  3. Ideal Oral Rest Tongue Posture

  4. Improve Optimal Chewing and Swallowing

If you have noticed any of these signs and symptoms and are curious on how Myofunctional Therapy can help make a difference for you and/or your child. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your health concerns.