What is Myofunctional Therapy?
A specialized form of therapy that focuses on the muscles and functions of the face, mouth, and throat.
Myofunctional therapy, also known as orofacial myofunctional therapy, is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on the muscles and functions of the face, mouth, and throat. It involves exercises and techniques designed to correct improper muscle patterns and functions related to breathing, orofacial muscles imbalance and poor tongue posture.
The underlying principle of myofunctional therapy is that proper muscle function is essential for optimal oral health and overall well-being. When the muscles of the face, mouth, and throat are not functioning properly, it can lead to various issues, such as:
Incorrect tongue posture: The tongue should rest against the roof of the mouth, but improper tongue posture, such as resting against the teeth or low in the mouth, can contribute to dental and orthodontic problems.
Mouth breathing: Breathing predominantly through the mouth instead of the nose can affect facial development, dental alignment, and oral health. Breathing through the mouth can lead to a dry mouth, which reduces saliva flow and its protective effects on teeth. This can increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Mouth breathing is often associated with sleep-disordered breathing, such as snoring and sleep apnea. Breathing through the mouth during sleep can disrupt normal airflow, leading to poor quality sleep, excessive daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Breathing through the nose allows for proper filtration, warming, and humidification of the air before it reaches the lungs. Mouth breathing bypasses these processes, potentially leading to a lower oxygen intake and less efficient breathing.
Tongue thrusting: Tongue thrusting can contribute to muscle imbalances in the mouth and face. The repetitive incorrect tongue posture can lead to overactive or underactive muscles, resulting in facial muscle asymmetry or oral muscle weakness or tightness. The abnormal forces exerted by tongue thrusting can strain the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull. This may contribute to TMJ disorders, including jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, and headaches. Tongue thrusting can affect facial appearance over time. The habit may result in an open mouth posture, protrusion of the upper lip, a long face shape, or a "gummy" smile.
Speech difficulties: Improper muscle coordination and function in the mouth and throat can contribute to speech problems, such as lisps or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. If speech difficulties are present, evaluation with a Speech Language Pathologist is recommended. Myofunctional therapy is not a treatment for speech.
Myofunctional therapy aims to retrain and strengthen the muscles involved in these functions through a series of exercises and techniques. A myofunctional therapist, who is typically a speech-language pathologist or registered dental hygienist with additional training, assesses the patient's oral musculature and develops an individualized treatment plan.
The therapy may involve exercises to improve tongue posture, breathing techniques to encourage nasal breathing and coordination exercises for orofacial balance. The therapist provides guidance and support throughout the therapy process, and patients are often given home exercises to practice regularly.
Myofunctional therapy is often used as part of a comprehensive plan for various conditions, including malocclusion (misalignment of teeth), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, sleep apnea, and speech disorders. It can be beneficial for individuals of all ages, including children and adults. However, it's important to note that myofunctional therapy should be conducted by a qualified professional to ensure proper assessment and guidance. Myofunctional therapists collaborate with physicians, dentists, orthodontists, functional practitioners, chiropractors and more. Myofunctional therapy is a not a treatment but can be a beneficial exercise for many ailments being treated by medical and dental providers. If you are interested in improving your overall health, contact a myofunctional therapist.
Tamara Thomas RDH, CSOM
Owner of Facial Physique Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
San Diego, Ca
