What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial myofunctional therapy is a customized exercise program for the tongue and surrounding structures to facilitate proper oral rest posture, increase nasal breathing, encourage palate development, and promote restful sleep.
What problems does Myofunctional Therapy help with?
Therapy is implemented to correct orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). These disorders can result in snoring and sleep apnea, chronic fatigue, sinus congestion, grinding and TMJ pain, malaligned teeth, orthodontic relapse, tongue thrusting, tooth decay, swallowing and chewing difficulties, poor facial tone, neck and shoulder tension, hunched posture, headaches and more.
Why is mouth breathing an issue?
Mouth breathing dries out the oral environment, encouraging tooth decay and dehydrated/inflamed tissue. Breaths taken in through the mouth are not filtered through our nasal passages, which makes us more susceptible to allergens, germs and particles in the air. Chronic mouth breathers as children may experience underdevelopment of the mouth, facial structures and airway, leading to further dysfunction.
Why is breathing through the nose ideal?
Our nasal passages filter out debris, warm and moisten the air we’re taking in, and create nitric oxide – an important gas that improves oxygen circulation in the body. Breaths through the nose are slower, which can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve heart health, increase energy and concentration, and more.
Also, your tongue should be up in the roof of the mouth, which is only possible while you are breathing through your nose!
What is proper “oral rest posture”?
At rest, both during sleep and while awake, we should have our lips sealed – breathing through the nose, tongue lightly suctioned to the roof of the mouth, and have a slight space between the teeth called the “freeway space”.
This may be difficult or impossible if the nasal passages are not clear, the tongue is undertoned, or it’s lacking the range of motion to rest in this position naturally.
Why should the tongue rest in the roof of the mouth?
Our tongue should naturally rest in the palate to:
• keep it “up” and “forward” – out of the throat
• to stimulate the vagus nerve and it’s “rest and digest” response
• encourage lip seal and nasal breathing
• encourage proper development and width to the jaw during growth – making room to properly accommodate the tongue, teeth and growing an adequate upper airway system
What is “sleep disordered breathing” (SDB)?
Sleep disordered breathing refers to a range of conditions affecting resistance to proper airflow while we sleep. One example is snoring. Snoring is the sound created by air passing through the collapsed, relaxed tissues in your airway. This noise signifies that the airway is restricted. When this restriction blocks the airway entirely, sleep apnea can occur, where there are moments you stop breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study that identifies how frequently these pauses happen throughout the night.
How do I know if I have a tongue tie?
A myofunctional therapist can assess you for tongue and lip ties, as well as their level of severity.
Tongue restrictions are not always obvious. A clear tongue tie may be noted in an infant when it interferes with proper feeding, but sometimes the attachment is not addressed because it lies further back (a “posterior tie” or “mid-tongue restriction”), causing improper function of the tongue.
Unless very severe, a tissue tie’s effect on function and development cannot be assessed with a quick look. A functional assessment is necessary to determine if your range of motion is limited due to tissue restriction. A provider who is untrained in assessing tethered oral tissues cannot determine the level at which your potential ties are affecting you.
How does myo therapy complement orthodontic treatment?
Myofunctional therapy can be preventative or done in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. In proper function and health, the jaw may develop enough that ortho intervention is not necessary. When the orofacial muscles are working as they should, the tongue serves as a natural palate expander and the cheeks and lips serve as retainers. When the jaw grows to the appropriate size, the teeth should erupt in alignment and the muscles should serve to keep them in place.
When dysfunction is not addressed, orthodontic treatment may be recommended to correct resulting malalignments. This intervention may only be temporary if the root cause is not correcte. Soft tissue (muscles + fascia) can work against hard tissue (teeth + bone)! This is why retainers must be worn for life, and without them the teeth can shift or revert, called “orthodontic relapse”.
How does dysfunction affect TMJ, grinding and clenching at night?
When the upper airway space is being blocked or partially blocked by the tongue, your body’s response is to activate muscles that pull the tongue out of the throat. This can result in tension when the muscles contract (clenching), shifting of the lower jaw in attempt to pull the tongue forward (grinding, aka bruxism), and TMJ issues when the jaw, joint and soft tissues are negatively impacted by this frequent muscle activation. This can lead to tension, pain, impairment, headaches and migraines. It can all take a toll on the teeth, causing wear, fractures and trauma.
Why haven’t these issues been identified by my doctor(s) or dentist?
Airway, sleep and myofunctional health are just starting to be taught in dental, hygiene and speech curriculums. It takes a long time for science to be substantiated, longer for it to be incorporated into standard education, and even longer to be implemented in real life practice. It’s very likely your providers are not aware, misinformed or untrained to use the screening tools that can help detect, prevent and treat orofacial myofunctional disorders.
Schedule an appointment to be evaluated by a myofunctional therapist at Smile Myo Therapy