Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Causes | Signs | Symptoms | Goals

Orofacial Myofuntional therapy is the study of structure, arrangement and action of muscles, particularly relating to the facial structures and airway. This therapy has been around for decades, however it is becoming more widely known as a therapy option for dysfunction of the oral-facial structures. It is commonly known as physical therapy for the face. Therapy consists of highly effective exercises to encourage proper alignment and function of the facial muscles. Exercises promote strength and coordination to optimize essential functions such as breathing, chewing, swallowing, sleeping, speaking, temporomandibular joint movement, etc. Exercises are quick and easy and are typically completed a few minutes at at time, a few times a day.

Signs and Symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

  • Mouth breathing

  • Tongue thrust (lisp) when speaking or swallowing

  • Malocclusions

  • Bite problems

  • Noxious habits: thumb sucking, extended pacifier use, etc

  • Reduced tongue movement

  • Jaw pain

  • Difficulty closing lips

  • Poor sleep quality, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders

  • Hyperactivity

  • Orthodontic relapse

Causes of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

  • Mouth breathing

  • Reoccurring illnesses

  • Congestion

  • Genetics

  • Poor oral habits

  • Extended pacifier use

  • Structural abnormalities

Goals of Therapy

Breath through your nose with your lips closed

Nasal breathing is the most efficient way to breath and provides numerous health benefits. Mouth breathing can leave us susceptible to abnormal facial and dental development, frequent illness, dry mouth, dental disease, ADHD, anxiety, and sleep apnea.

Tongue resting in the roof of your mouth

The tongue's ideal resting position is when it's making full contact with the roof of the mouth. When this does not happen, the child is at risk for developing a high narrow palate, orthodontic issues (teeth crowding, open bite, etc.), airway issues, improper facial growth, and dental disease.

Use correct chew and swallow patterns

While not many people think about the sequence of chewing and swallowing, it is important they happen in correct order. Oftentimes, when someone has an OMD, they compensate by pushing their tongue forward past their teeth in preparation to swallow. This is called tongue thrust and can cause an open bite and increased risk for difficulty swallowing.

Similar to swallowing, tongue thrust can also be present in speech, primarily when saying the /s/ or /z/ sounds. For example: "soup" becomes "thoup"

Healthy head and neck posture

Imagine having a kink in your water hose… now imagine your airway. If your head and neck are in poor alignment, you may not breathe as easily. Also, if your head and neck are in poor alignment, unnecessary strain is being put on your muscles which can result in tension and headaches.