Unlocking Better Oral Health: The Power of Myofunctional Therapy

Did you know that the seemingly minor detail of your tongue's resting position holds significant sway over fundamental bodily functions like chewing and swallowing, and even impacts your facial aesthetics and speech clarity? Fortunately, there's a specialized approach to correct abnormal tongue placement: myofunctional therapy. This targeted training can profoundly improve your oral health and contribute to a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) arise when an atypical position of the lips, jaw, or tongue disrupts the proper development and function of your oral and facial structures. These disorders can have far-reaching negative effects, impacting crucial activities such as breastfeeding, chewing, swallowing, and even talking. Beyond functional impairments, OMDs can also influence jaw movement, oral hygiene, and the overall appearance of your face. Several common factors contribute to the development of OMDs: Upper Airway Obstruction: Conditions like enlarged tonsils, a deviated septum, or chronic allergies can impede nasal breathing. When nasal passages are obstructed, the body compensates by resorting to mouth-breathing. This long-term adaptation can alter the natural resting positions of the jaw, tongue, and lips. Chronic Habits: Prolonged habits such as thumb-sucking or extended use of pacifiers or bottles exert continuous pressure on the teeth. This pressure can lead to dental misalignment (malocclusion) and can also modify the tongue's resting posture and swallowing patterns. Orofacial Muscular and Structural Differences: According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), underlying differences like delayed neuromotor development, the premature loss of upper front teeth (which can encourage tongue thrusting), other orofacial anomalies, and ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) can contribute to OMDs. Identifying OMDs often involves recognizing common symptoms, which your dental professional can help pinpoint. These signs include: Misaligned teeth Tongue thrusting (where the tongue pushes against the front teeth during swallowing) Teeth-grinding (bruxism) Facial pain Speech difficulties Chronic mouth breathing Sleep apnea Stomach aches (often related to swallowing air) You or your child might exhibit one or more of these symptoms. Typically, addressing the root cause of the OMD or initiating myofunctional therapy for swallowing problems precedes the correction of symptoms like malocclusion or speech deficits. The impact of OMDs extends to oral health in significant ways. Beyond contributing to malocclusions such as overbite, overjet, and underbite, these disorders can also heighten the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Abnormal lip, tongue, and jaw positions can disrupt normal tongue activity and saliva flow, both of which are crucial in the fight against bacteria and plaque. Individuals with OMDs must therefore prioritize meticulous dental care, including brushing twice daily for two minutes, daily interdental cleaning, and regular visits to the dentist for oral examinations. Myofunctional therapy is typically administered by a healthcare professional who has completed specialized advanced training in OMDs and their treatment. Often, dental professionals undertake this training, enabling them to readily identify OMDs during routine oral exams and implement appropriate treatment protocols. Your myofunctional therapist will design an individualized program aimed at retraining your orofacial muscles and improving their function. The goals of your therapy might include normalizing the resting posture of your tongue and lips, establishing consistent nasal breathing patterns, or eliminating detrimental habits like thumb-sucking. As you work to retrain these patterns, your therapist will guide you in increasing your awareness of your mouth and facial muscles. You'll likely be given exercises to practice at home, focusing on achieving ideal swallowing, breathing, and resting patterns. Consistent practice of these positions and movements will enhance your muscle strength and coordination. Ultimately, myofunctional therapy should lead to an improvement in your OMD symptoms—from clearer speech and more efficient eating to more restful sleep. You may also observe beneficial cosmetic changes in your face and smile. With a proper diagnosis from your dental professional and the expert guidance of a myofunctional therapist, you can effectively treat your orofacial myofunctional disorder, correct your mouth's alignment, and get your smile back on track.