Your Sudbury Invisalign® Provider
Myofunctional Therapy
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is like physiotherapy for the tongue and face, focusing on re-educating the muscles to improve movement. The objective is to enhance breathing and sleep quality and to reduce discomfort.
In resting position, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth, just behind your front teeth. An orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) occurs when the tongue, lips, or jaw are not in their natural positions due to structural issues in your facial muscles or an upper airway obstruction.
Myofunctional therapy can improve your condition with a tailored set of exercises to correct your bite, breathing, and facial posture. By working on these areas, we can help reposition your tongue and facial muscles for better function.
How Does Myofunctional Therapy Work?
During your initial consultation at our Sudbury clinic, our Myofunctional Therapist will assess your specific issue. They will then work with you to create an individualized treatment plan.
This plan will be designed to retrain your orofacial muscles and correct any dysfunction. Other training objectives may include normalizing your lips and tongue's resting posture, establishing nasal breathing patterns, and breaking bad habits such as tongue thrusting.
As you work on reforming these patterns, you will become more aware of how your mouth and facial muscles move.
We will also suggest at-home exercises to help you focus on proper breathing, swallowing, and resting patterns. These exercises can also help you improve muscle strength and coordination.
Signs of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
Some of the most common symptoms of orofacial myofunctional disorders include:
- Misaligned teeth
- Tongue thrusting
- Teeth-grinding
- Facial pain
- Speech problems
- Mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea
- Stomachaches
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact our clinic to book an appointment.