Orofacial myology defines myofunctional therapy as, “The study and treatment of oral and facial muscles as they relate to speech, detention, chewing/bolus collection, swallowing, and overall mental and physical health (S.R. Holtzman).” Myofunctional therapy allows for someone who is suffering from myofunctional disorders to achieve ideal oral resting posture (i.e., lips and teeth together, tongue resting softly against the roof of the mouth, and breathing through the nose).
Myofunctional therapy involves using a series of specially prescribed exercises that serve to re-train the tongue and lips, as well as the muscles of the face and mouth. These are painless and relatively simple exercises that can easily be continued and practiced at home. Though the length of treatment is based on your needs, typically individual’s complete treatment in ten sessions spanning over the course of six months.
Breathing properly is essential to living a long-healthy life. Many who struggle with myofunctional disorders display symptoms including jaw and neck pain, headaches, sleep disorders, difficult chewing, swallowing problems, TMJ disorders, and speech disorders. In other words, myofunctional disorders overtime can negatively affect your whole-body wellness.
The benefits of myofunctional therapy are endless. For starters, it is non-invasive and looks at correcting the causes of problems rather than just treating symptoms. Through myofunctional therapy you regain ability to eat, speak, breathe, and sleep comfortably and naturally.
We recommend treating myofunctional disorders at a young age, thereby minimizing possible negative symptoms including jaw and facial development and sleep disorders.
We believe that every patient has their own unique needs! That is why we take the time to provide you with a personalized treatment plan. Though we follow a general course of treatment, we take the time to listen to your desires and adjust our treatment plan based on your unique needs.
The treatment begins with one of our myofunctional therapists assessing the abilities and strengths of your soft tissues, as well as evaluating the swallow function and lip and cheek competencies. Following the initial assessment, you will go through a series of sessions that aim to ensure you are chewing and swallowing properly, that your tongue is resting on the roof of your mouth, and that you are breathing through your nose.
We have incorporated lively videos and creative exercises into each session to make sure your journey is fun and enjoyable. The treatment concludes by proving you with the skills and tools you need to integrate what you have learned into your day-to-day life.
In our office, we look at the relationship between oral and facial muscles in order to provide you with the best possible care. We take into consideration your whole-body wellness, so that you can live a healthy, happy life!
Throughout the treatment we will take the time to explain the purpose of each exercise and make sure your needs are meet. We want you to leave our office feeling confident about your health.