Our practice provides a treatment referred to a myofunctional therapy. We describe myofunctional therapy as a program used to treat orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) that occur when your tongue and facial muscles do not work together correctly. To read our main page on myofunctional therapy click here.
OMDs can adversely affect health in a number of ways including:
- Malocclusion and TMJ – When facial muscles develop abnormal functions, it can place stress on the temporomandibular joint and cause the jaw to misalign, creating an abnormal bite pattern that can effect biting and chewing.
- Difficulty swallowing – If your tongue is not functioning properly, you can develop an improper pattern of swallowing that can have numerous negative effects on your health and even on your facial appearance.
- Stomach issues – If your OMD causes you to swallow air, you may have trouble digesting food.
- Speech impediments – If you have abnormal tongue and muscle patterns, you may develop a lisp or have difficulty articulating certain sounds.
- Trouble breathing – When the tongue does not rest and function in the proper position, your airway can be obstructed, causing you to develop odd breathing habits.
