I began my career as a dental hygienist in 2011 and as a myofunctional therapist in 2018.
You know that feeling when you learn something you feel you should have known for years? Shocked. Confused. Some may even describe it as… betrayed.
I had been a dental hygienist for 7 years when I first heard the term “myofunctional therapy.” A dentist I worked for had returned from a course on sleep/airway/breathing talking about how these professionals either hired or referred to a myofunctional therapist. He then told me that DENTAL HYGIENISTS could become myofunctional therapists.
Wait–What? I could be trained to provide a service I had no idea even existed?
An intense internet search proceeded. I spent hours researching myofunctional therapy and fell into the so called rabbit hole. I enrolled in a 12 week mentorship program.
I began to learn the basics: We should breathe through our noses. (Me: Well yeah, of course.) All of the time–day and night. (Me: Seriously?) Our tongue should completely rest in the roof of our mouth from front to back and not touch the teeth. (Me: Is that even possible?)
I was learning SO much about myofunctional disorders (the term used to describe anything abnormal in regards to facial growth, development, and movements) but also was realizing that the “issues” I was learning about were describing…
ME! I had multiple myofunctional disorders.
My myofunctional disorders:
Mouth breathing – Lips parted – Low tongue rest posture – Narrow jaws – Crowded teeth before braces – Permanent teeth removed as part of orthodontics – High palate – Tongue tie – Long/narrow face – Flat midface – Recessed lower jaw
My Therapy
As I progressed through the 12 week course I started my own therapy. I started becoming aware of keeping my lips closed and holding my tongue in the correct spot. I found that it was difficult to keep the middle and back of my tongue up like I was supposed to. It was determined I had a posterior (non-obvious) tongue tie. I chose to have a functional frenuloplasty completed (a form of a tongue tie release procedure) and continued my therapy.
After the functional frenuloplasty, I could feel that my neck and shoulder areas were less tense than usual. It didn’t take long after healing that the middle and back of my tongue began to rest in the roof of my mouth naturally, instead of having to constantly think about it. For the most part, my entire tongue was also staying completely in the roof of my mouth when sleeping. I started mouth taping at night to ensure my lips were staying closed. I was not moving around as much when sleeping and was waking up less. I was also feeling less tired during the day.
I was 30 when I learned of my myofunctional disorders. I had minimal symptoms compared to most of our clients. As we get older the symptoms often become worse. I am so grateful to have learned about myofunctional therapy to change my own habits, improve my overall health, and prevent a lot of health issues for me in the future. I want to help other adults experience these same health improvements and preventions with myofunctional therapy.
My History
As a very young child, I had asthma and allergies which are both major causes of abnormal facial growth/development due to the mouth breathing associated with them. That is likely when my mouth breathing habit started so that even when my airway wasn’t compromised by allergies/asthma I was mouth breathing by habit (not necessity).
My face and jaw likely developed smaller/narrower due to mouth breathing and low tongue rest posture. This resulted in my jaw not being large enough to fit all of my permanent teeth and needing 2 permanent teeth removed as part of my braces journey as a teenager. My teeth are straight, which is great. However, my jaw is small. Too small. A small jaw means not enough room for the tongue. A small jaw means smaller nasal cavity space and smaller airway. All of this means I am at higher risk for breathing issues, sleep issues, sinus issues, sleep apnea, and more.
My Wish
Early intervention for kids with myofunctional disorders can mean preventing (or lessening the severity) of many health issues. Finding the specialists that take airway and breathing issues seriously and passionately are best. These specialists work together to promote ideal growth and development at an early age. The specialists needed depend on every situation but may include: myofunctional therapists, dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, allergists, sleep specialists, and others.
I hope that someday the information I have learned about myofunctional therapy, airway, breathing, sleep, and more is common knowledge. I hope prevention at a young age will be the standard of care.
I hope to help change lives and improve health by being a part of the transition to more early intervention/prevention but also by helping the adults (like myself) that missed out on it.
My Training
My first introductory course was taken in 2018. I’ve since continued to learn and expand my knowledge on airway, breathing, sleep, tongue ties, jaw pain, the myo munchee, and more.
Myo Mentor Course: 2018, 2021, 2022
Qualified Orofacial Myologist (QOM) through Neo-Health Services: 2020
Tethered Oral Tissue Specialist (TOTS) through Chrysalis Orofacial: 2021
Certified Myo Munchee Practitioner: 2022
Myo Circle (advanced myo course through Airway Circle): 2024
