What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Put simply, myofunctional therapy is a program used to correct the improper function of the tongue and facial muscles. It involves strengthening of the tongue and orofacial muscles by teaching individuals how to engage the muscles in the appropriate position.
Using highly effective practices to achieve the four goals of myofunctional therapy:
- Nasal breathing
- Lip seal
- Proper tongue posture
- Correct swallowing pattern
Proper diagnosis allows for targeted and effective myofunctional therapy exercises for oral posture retraining to promote better health with goals to improve breathing, reduce pain, and enhance the quality of life.
Who can benefit from Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy may benefit those who suffer from a variety of ailments, including:
- Headaches, neck pain and orofacial tension
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
- Tongue-tie
- Thumb sucking of nail biting
- Sleep apnea
- Bed wetting
- Orthodontic relapse
- Tongue thrust
- Clenching and grinding
Myfunctional therapy works for all ages.
Although this type of therapy works best on developing children and adolescents, adults also can benefit. Your body is always changing and remodeling itself—and myofunctional therapy capitalizes on the fact that your jawbones are among the most dynamic bones in the entire body. That means they’re more receptive to the forces released when performing myofunctional therapy.
Of all the treatment options available, myofunctional therapy is probably the least invasive. In many cases, all we’re talking about is performing some simple exercises for a few minutes a day. You can often do these exercises anytime and anywhere you want. Do them while you’re watching TV or while you’re cooking dinner. You can even do them while driving to work.
Benefits of Myofunctional Therapy?
- Improved speech
- Reduction in teeth grinding
- Reduced nasal obstruction
- Reduction in sleep apnea
- Straighten teeth
- Better facial symmetry
- Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
- Ability to move oral muscles properly
- Increasing the tone and mobility of oral structures
- Correct use of oral structures
A personalized approach to Myofunctional Therapy in Lompoc, CA
Tongue Tied Myofunctional Therapy offers a dynamic approach to achieving patient goals. We will utilize nasal and sleep hygiene practices in conjunction with myofunctional exercises. Adjunctive therapies like Myo Brace, MyoMunchee and more may be utilized to aid in facial tone and development as well as palatal expansion. Consulting and treatment with specialists may include, but is not limited to: dentists, orthodontists, ENT’s, speech pathologists, and physical therapists.
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