Specialized Exercises Can Help
Did you know we swallow 500–1,000 times each day? Improper swallowing can lead to a range of issues. Correct swallowing requires the coordinated function of the muscles in theface, mouth, and throat. Myofunctional therapy is a series of exercises designed to strengthen and train these muscles, helping them work properly.
Why Myofunctional therapy?
When patients have good oral resting posture, both form and function of the tongue and airway passages are healthy. But when the rest posture is altered, muscle function and craniofacial growth are impacted. Myofunctional therapy involves teaching the muscles to rest again in proper alignment and balance. A healthy oral resting posture includes:
- The tongue on the palate
- Sealed lips
- Nasal breathing
Benefits of myofunctional therapy
Patients who undergo myofunctional therapy improve both the function of their face, mouth, and throat while enhancing their cosmetic appearance and confidence as well. Our patients regain ease and joy in:
- Eating
- Speaking
- Breathing
- Sleeping
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder
If you or your child has difficulty with from one of the following, you or your child may have an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) — a disorder of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth:
- Breastfeeding
- Facial skeletal growth and development
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Speech
- Occlusion
- Temporomandibular joint movement
- Oral hygiene
- Stability of orthodontic treatment
- Facial esthetics