What is
Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy works on improving the user's overall body posture, breathing patterns, and eliminates improper oral habits that lead to airway and muscle function issues. It helps realign the tongue, lips, and facial muscles, allowing users to improve muscle responses that can correct many disorders.

What does Myofunctional Therapy Treat?

Myofunctional therapy is also used to stabilize and prevent future dental and orthodontic problems, including orthodontic relapse. It helps reduce the risk of many oral health-related issues by reinforcing good oral habits, improving the quality and quantity of saliva production, and strengthening or balancing muscle coordination. This therapy is also beneficial for individuals with chronic headaches, neck, and shoulder tension, which is often related to the improper use of the orofacial muscles.

How does it treat these conditions?

Common conditions and treatments

TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders)

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated muscles, which allows for movement of the jaw. It is estimated that TMD affects around 35 million people in the United States alone, with women being more likely to develop it than men. Trauma, misaligned teeth or jaws, poor posture, muscle imbalance, stress, and more can cause TMD. Myofunctional therapy can help to restore normal jaw movement and muscle coordination. Various techniques can be used, such as muscle relaxation, stretching and strengthening, breathing exercises, and addressing tongue and lip dysfunction.  One of the most important aspects a myofunctional therapist will address with jaw issues is eliminating compensation patterns—this requires a trained eye to observe.  The therapist may also recommend lifestyle changes, give tips on ergonomic body posture awareness, educate on sleep hygiene or relaxation techniques.

Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing refers to the habit of breathing primarily or solely through one's mouth rather than through the nose. It is a common problem that can lead to various issues related to oral and overall health. People who are habitual mouth breathers can struggle with dry and cracked lips, as well as sore throats and bad breath, due to the humidified air not passing through the nasal passages.  Mouth breathing is shown to cause changes in cranio-facial growth and development, malocclusion, and often leads to TMJ problems.  It is also associated with low oxygen concentration in the blood, high blood pressure in adults, digestive issues, chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep apnea, among many others.  Myofunctional therapy can help break this habit by teaching effective breathing techniques and exercises to strengthen the appropriate facial and throat muscles, while also addressing the proper resting position of the lips, tongue, and jaw.

Open Bite/ Tongue Thrust

Open bite is a condition where the top and bottom teeth do not touch when biting together. It can be caused by the tongue protruding, or thrusting, between the teeth while speaking, swallowing, sitting at rest, or due to habits such as thumb-sucking or pen chewing.  Tongue thrusting is often associated with breathing, swallowing, and speech disorders.  Myofunctional therapists evaluate for the root cause of the thrusting pattern, refer to the appropriate provider if structural issues need to be addressed, then educate and train the patient how to properly function while speaking, eating, and sleeping which can help reduce the open bite, stabilize dental occlusion, and improve overall health.

Tongue Tie/Ankyloglossia

Tongue tie is a condition where the lingual frenulum (the piece of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth) is too tight or too short and can limit the mobility of the tongue.  The tongue plays an important role in speech, swallowing, sleep, and breathing.  Adequate tongue mobility is essential for optimal growth and development of the upper and lower jaws, as well as other oral issues including gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath.  Often the obvious tongue ties are treated early in life, but many with mild to moderate tongue ties go unrecognized for a long time.  These people tend to develop compensation patterns for that lack of tongue mobility which may affect sleep, breathing, clenching/grinding and TMJ problems, as well as many other musculoskeletal posture issues.  Myofunctional therapists are trained to identify all types of tongue ties (or lip ties) and help restore proper tongue mobility, strength, and posture.  This can have a huge impact on many areas of a person’s life.

Sleep Disordered Breathing & Sleep Apnea

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) refers to a wide spectrum of sleep-related conditions including snoring, marked reduction in airflow (hypopnea), and complete pauses in breathing (apnea). These pauses may cause reduced oxygen levels, interrupted sleep, chronic health issues, and even death.  Commonly undiagnosed is a condition referred to as Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS).  The soft tissue in the airway relaxes and doesn’t allow for proper airflow but is not severe enough to cause an actual pause in breathing.  The symptoms of UARS tend to be similar to OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) but may be less in severity.  People with UARS usually notice snoring, daytime sleepiness/fatigue, cognitive impairment, unrefreshing sleep, and frequent arousals from sleep.  SDB doesn’t only affect adults.  There is a growing awareness of how to identify and treat children early before the symptoms escalate.  Children often exhibit behavioral issues, learning challenges, bedwetting, restless sleep, nightmares, bruxism, allergies, asthma, frequent colds, ear infections, tonsillitis, etc.

Research has shown that myofunctional therapy is safe and has a positive effect on reducing the symptoms of sleep disordered breathing and mild to moderate OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) in adults and children.  It has also been shown to prevent relapse of sleep apnea after surgical treatment.

Gag Reflex Relief

The gag reflex is an involuntary reaction of the body to objects placed in the back of the throat. An overly sensitive gag reflex can be uncomfortable and even dangerous if it prevents a person from completing necessary medical procedures or eating certain foods. Myofunctional therapy can help to reduce sensitivity by teaching proper breathing techniques and using exercises to desensitize the gag reflex. In addition, orofacial myology specialists work with the patient to identify and address any underlying causes that may be contributing to the overactive reflex.

Why Choose us at Orofacial Myology Resolutions?

At Orofacial Myology Resolutions, Rhonda understands the importance of proper oral and facial health for aesthetic, physical and mental well-being. Rhonda is qualified to provide expert myofunctional therapy services to help with various conditions. She focuses on understanding the underlying causes of the disorder and developing a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the individual’s needs. Whether you are looking for relief from sleep apnea, TMD or another condition, she is here to help.

Rhonda has invested heavily into education and training as she strives to provide high-quality, evidence-based treatment with a focus on safety, comfort, and patient satisfaction. She is dedicated to staying up to date with the latest research and treatments in order to provide the most effective care possible.

Book An Appointment

Contact Orofacial Myology Resolutions today.  Rhonda is an experienced specialist and she’s ready to provide personalized treatment and care to restore your oral and facial health and improve your quality of life.

Myofunctional Therapy Frequently Asked Questions: