Myofunctional Therapy is a treatment that aims at establishing and improving the correct function of oral and facial muscles.

If these muscles are not functioning ideally, it can lead to bad habits such as mouth breathing due to an obstructed nasal airway. This then causes a lowering of tongue position which results in a change in the balance between tongue and cheek pressure on the dental arches. Consequently we often find that mouth breathing patients have high palates, narrow arches and a significant amount of crowding. If the oral and facial muscles are not in balance and mouth breathing is not addressed it can lead to facial abnormalities and impact on facial aesthetics.

Therapy includes the evaluation and treatment of:

• Bad mouth habits eg. thumb sucking, nail biting, tongue thrusting
• Posturing problems related to the lips, tongue, jaw and respiratory system
• Detrimental breathing patterns
• Swallowing patterns which may be associated with incorrect bite positions
• Facial and postural aesthetics.

Myofunctional therapy is painless and it involves a series of exercises which are relatively simple. When certain muscles are strengthened and functioning properly, other muscles will follow suit until an overall balance of these muscles is achieved. Treatment involves training people to breathe through their noses if their airways are not compromised, and if the oral breathing is an acquired habit; we can teach people how to properly position their tongue at rest. Other exercises teach how to chew and swallow correctly, and emphasize the importance of proper head and neck posture patterns.

This will result in a normal, attractive face and mouth.

Why is it good for children?

Many bad habits are formed during infancy and childhood, and can stem from many factors such as using a large dummy, being born with a tongue tie, thumb sucking while sleeping, or even some methods of bottle feeding. It is therefore important to treat and correct these habits earlier rather than later to avoid long term side effects going into adulthood.

Myofunctional therapy may be needed in conjunction with other dental treatments designed to correct the position of teeth and jaw. Treatment can be beneficial to patients prior to orthodontic treatment (braces). Sometimes if a myofunctional disorder is detected and treated early, orthodontic treatment may be minimal or even avoided.

Contact us today to learn more about this exciting new treatment and discover if we can use it to help you!