Frequently Asked Questions About myofunctional therapy

Do you grind your teeth? If you do, I bet your tongue is not in the palate (where it should be at night). Luckily, with tongue awareness and training, we can achieve tongue suction at night which will prevent you from grinding your teeth! Which can mean - no more night guard. 

When your tongue is not suctioned to the roof of your mouth at night it sits low in the mouth and has the ability to get in the way of the airway. In an effort to find an airway your teeth shift side to side, which leads to the grinding and clenching habit. 

Myofunctional therapy exercises when paired with orthodontic treatment have been shown to improve the outcome and decrease the time in braces. Myo helps strengthen the muscles of the face and jaw which helps get you to your goals quicker by reducing your own oral resistance to change. 

The natural inward forces of the cheeks when unposed by the outward force of the tongue can lead to relapse and shifting after the braces come off. The tongue serves as a retainer when in its proper location. Additionally, if an oral habit (like a tongue thrust) is not eliminated, the success of the braces can be short lived. 

Obstructive sleep apnea affects 22 million Americans and is a severe sleep-related disorder. Because myofunctional therapy helps strengthen your mouth, tongue, and neck muscles you can see relief when sleeping. The strengthening of the muscles makes it easier to keep the airway open while you sleep. You should always be in consult with a medical provider, but with increased function - you could potentially avoid a CPAP. 

Breathing through your mouth will change your appearance and growth pattern. Form follows function. If you have a mouth breathing pattern or a physical limitation which will not allow you to nasal breath, your body will grow vertically so that you can breathe through your mouth instead. Mouth breathing can lead to a more gummy smile, a long face, a crooked nose and other facial features that are characteristic to mouth breathing. Ideally, with the tongue up, we would see horizontal growth which would help grow a nice wide palate which provides plenty of room for the tongue. 

To be continued. 

Yes, absolutely. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is also appropriate for adults! 

Myofunctional therapy may be an effective alternative treatment for mild sleep apnea and can get very effective for those who suffer from temperomandibular pain (TMD). It is convenient, non-invasive, and has no major risks. Myofunctional therapy has even been shown to help people avoid the CPAP device. 

The goal of myofunctional therapy is to help create new lifelong habits through muscle memory and practice that optimizes your ability to chew, swallow and breathe well. The goal is to get you breathing through your nose with your lips sealed, your tongue up (on the roof of your mouth) and to get you swallowing correctly. 

A tongue tie restricts the tongue's ability to move and seal to the top of the mouth - an important characteristic for both growth and development and eating/sleeping. When the tongue is not able to live in the roof of the mouth it can have detrimental health effects - like mouth breathing, airway obstruction and poor development of the jaw. Correct tongue posture is essential to providing the needed support for oral and breathing function. When unchecked, these issues can negatively affect the way you live your life. 

It can change how you swallow, have an effect on TMJ, teeth alignment, facial growth and airway obstruction leading to poor sleep.

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy can correct many myofunctional impairments and when needed, works in conjunction with tongue release. Tongue Posture is an integral piece to an open airway, obstruction can lead to severe health issues if not addressed.

Success is very largely dependent on your buy in with your exercises and commitment to the process. 

I am happy to bring the roadmap, but I will need your help to cross the finish line. 

Myofunctional treatment is similar to having a personal trainer for all your muscles below the eyes and above the shoulders and luckily, the exercises given are easy to perform and can be adopted into your busy schedule. The time commitment is 3-5 exercises per day performed 2-3x per day - and they can be done anywhere you are! Myofunctional therapy is convenient. 

Appointments can be done in person or virtually - because I get it - your time is valuable!