Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy treats orofacial dysfunction by habituating muscles of the face, mouth and throat. The goal is to learn how to correctly use these muscles, eliminate poor oral habits and learn to maintain the proper position of these muscles at rest.

Orofacial dysfunction is commonly tongue thrusting, incorrect swallowing, mouth breathing, orofacial muscle unevenness, incorrect mandibular movement, and malocclusion (imperfect positioning of the teeth).

Orofacial dysfunction is connected to:
Upper airway obstruction
Finger or thumb sucking
Pacifier or bottle use
Orofacial muscular and structural differences

Signs and symptoms include:
Speech distortion, such as a frontal lisp
Open mouth positioning
Dental abnormalities, like overjet or open bite
Tongue thrust (when the tongue pushes forward during speech or swallowing)

“... you have far more influence over the shape and development of your child’s airway health than you might believe. This is both a big responsibility and a big relief, as it means that there’s hope to change even the most challenging physical issues that could be impeding good, healthy breathing and sleep quality.” Sleep Wrecked Kids by Sharon Moore; Chapter 5.

The aim of therapy is to have fun and integrate the activities into your daily life so they become natural and are not a chore. Early oral myofunctional therapy is important as oral habits are less ingrained and easier to change, encouraging healthy dental growth and overall health and development.

Assessment takes into account any contributing medical, dental or orthodontic concerns, the health, size and shape of the face and upper airway, and any early developmental challenge.