What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional Therapy is a program relating to exercises of the head and neck area. The program can help to correct improper tongue and facial muscles. These exercises can help with breathing, bite and orofacial posture. Starting from infancy, the oral facial complex is developing. Feeding during infancy is the beginning of this development. The “suck-swallow-breathe” pattern from breastfeeding plays a critical role in proper development into adulthood. This coordination supports and maintains the normal wide and flattened U-shape of the palate, along with proper airway development. Proper suction, mastication and nasal breathing during infancy continues healthy habits into youth and adulthood.

What are Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

Orofacial Myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are disorders pertaining to the face and mouth area. These disorders can interrupt and affect proper chewing, biting, speech, temporomandibular joint movement (also known as the TMJ), occlusion, swallowing, stability of orthodontic therapy, oral hygiene, facial skeletal growth and facial aesthetics.

Common Myofunctional Disorders Are:

  • Mouth breathing and lack of nasal breathing

  • Open mouth posture and lack of lip seal

  • Restricted movement of the tongue due to lingual frenum attachment or tongue tie

  • Tongue thrust- anterior or lateral

  • Low and forward tongue position during rest

  • Forward position of the head during rest

  • Inefficient chewing related (or not) to TMD or malocclusion

  • Atypical swallowing with or without a tongue thrust

  • Oral habits which are non-age appropriate such as:

    • sucking on fingers, bottles, pacifiers or toys

    • biting on nails, cheek, tongue, pen/pencils

Goals of Myofunctional Therapy

  • Create a lip seal- all day and night

  • Nasal breathing- all day and night

  • Correct tongue posture (on roof of mouth)-all day and night

  • Correct swallowing pattern- all day and night