What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is like physiotherapy for your tongue and facial muscles. It focuses on retraining these muscles to improve movement and function. By doing so, it can help you breathe more easily, sleep more soundly, and reduce discomfort.
Tongue Position & Your Health
The resting position of your tongue can affect many aspects of your oral health, including chewing, swallowing, and even speech.
Ideally, the tip of your tongue should rest against the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth.
But factors such as structural differences in facial muscles, airway blockages, or other issues can cause the tongue, lips, or jaw to shift out of their natural alignment. This is known as an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD).
The good news is that myofunctional therapy may help. Your dental team can create a tailored program of exercises designed to improve your bite, breathing, and overall facial posture, helping your tongue and facial muscles return to healthier positions.
How Does Myofunctional Therapy Work?
At your first visit to our office in Ottawa, our team will evaluate your individual needs. Together, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your goals.
This plan will focus on retraining your orofacial muscles to correct dysfunction. It may also aim to improve your tongue and lip resting posture, encouraging nasal breathing and addressing habits such as thumb sucking.
As you practice these new patterns, you’ll gain a better awareness of how your mouth and facial muscles move. Our team will provide guided at-home exercises to support proper breathing, swallowing, and resting positions, while also helping to strengthen and coordinate your muscles.
Signs of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Your registered dental hygienist can help identify the common symptoms of OMDs. These include:
- Misaligned teeth
- Tongue thrusting
- Teeth-grinding
- Facial pain
- Speech problems
- Mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea
- Stomachaches
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your clinic to book an appointment.