About

Why Have Treatment?

The interaction between orofacial structural growth and muscle activity starts in the early years of development, and the functions of suction, mastication, swallowing and nasal breathing in infancy plays an important role in stimulating subsequent growth. By training the muscles in the face to act in their optimal way, muscle memory can keep the teeth and jaw aligned as we grow and develop.

The goal as an orofacial therapist is to emphasize on the importance of proper tongue position, develop nasal breathing, eliminate a tongue thrust, eliminate oral habits such a thumb sucking, strengthen tongue muscles, and develop mouth closure.

There are also many benefits to myofunctional therapy such as, straightened teeth, ability to move oral muscles properly, no more jaw pain, and better facial symmetry.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are patterns involving oral and orofacial

musculature that interfere with normal growth, development, or function of orofacial structures,

or call attention to themselves OMDs can be found in children, adolescents,

and adults. OMDs can co-occur with a variety of speech and swallowing disorders. OMD may

reflect the interplay of learned behaviors, physical/ structural variables, genetic and

environmental factors.

• Develop nasal breathing / Buteyko Breathing Method

• Create muscle memory for cheeks, lips, and tongue

• Develop mouth closure

• Develop proper tongue placement which can help with sleep and breathing disorders in adults and children

• Eliminate tongue thrusting habits

• Strengthen tongue muscles pre and post tongue tie release for proper tongue placement and mobility

• Eliminate oral habits and behaviors / thumb, finger sucking, cheek biting

• Develop Habituation

• Correct speech articulation disorders by strengthening the tongue, lips and cheeks with referrals to Speech Pathology.