Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy, or orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), is a program of exercises designed to retrain the muscles of the mouth, face, and throat to function correctly. This neuromuscular re-education addresses issues with breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech that stem from abnormal muscle patterns (orofacial myofunctional disorders, or OMDs).
What Can Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Help With?
Sleep-Disordered Breathing
OMT is an effective adjunct treatment for conditions like snoring and mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by improving muscle tone in the upper airway and promoting nasal breathing.
Jaw & Facial Pain
Therapy can help manage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, headaches, and facial tension by promoting proper muscle function and resting posture.
Improper Oral Habits
It helps eliminate harmful habits such as thumb-sucking, chronic mouth breathing, and prolonged pacifier use, which can negatively affect oral development.
Orthodontic Support
By normalizing tongue and lip posture, OMT can assist with orthodontic treatment outcomes and help prevent the relapse of tooth misalignment after braces are removed.
Tongue Thrust
OMT corrects a "reverse swallow" pattern where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth during swallowing, which can affect tooth alignment and speech.
Tongue Tie
OMT is a crucial component of treatment before and after a tongue tie release (frenectomy) to improve the tongue's range of motion, strengthen muscles, and prevent reattachment.
How can we help?
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