MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY FOR ADULTS
For over a century now, Myofunctional Therapy has been used to improve oral posture, eliminate oral habits, aid in orthodontic expansion, and establish nasal breathing.
In the past decade, research has connected the benefits of Myofunctional Therapy with the treatment of sleep apnea, alleviation of asthma, and oral motor improvement to name a few.
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TREAT THE CAUSE NOT THE SYMPTOMS
What causes these disorders?
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) involve behaviors and patterns created by inappropriate muscle function and habits involving the tongue, lips, and jaws. OMD's are the result of a cascade of events or lack of intervention at critical periods of growth, and they can be caused by any number of things, such as:
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Airway obstruction
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Oral habits
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Medical conditions
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Injuries
No matter what the cause might be, a myofunctional disorder can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing. It is a potential snowball effect that can be prevented from birth and at any age can be improved with awareness, identification and retraining.​
How can a muscle imbalance impact my health?
First, we must understand that
Noses are for Breathing,
and Mouths are for Eating.
You would be worried if you saw your loved one use their nose to eat. Well, you should be worried if they use their mouth to breath.
Nasal (nose) breathing is hierarchically the most important function for humans to thrive.
By retraining the lips and oral muscles, we can support healthier breathing and overall health.
"If the muscles aren't retrained,
the function won't change."
What happens if I don't address my disorders?
Everyone is busy and this kind of treatment takes time and commitment. If you're not able to commit now, we can do it when it's a better time and you are ready.
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Please note that failure to address an OMD can result in:
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Slowing the process of orthodontic treatment
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Undermining the long-term stability of orthodontic treatment, resulting in relapse
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Long term mouth-breathing patterns can compromise overall health
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Oral breathing can cause tooth decay and gum disease
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Oral habits impede the growth and development of the face and airway
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Establishment of atypical chewing and swallowing patterns, can cause stomach distress
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Improper development of jaw growth and facial structure can occur
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Negative impact to the stability and function of the jaw joints (TMJ)
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Speech Language Therapy won't be supported with coordinated musculature resulting in longer therapy for some letter sounds
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Negatively affecting social relationships due to open mouth postures or noisy chewing and swallowing patterns
How can you accomplish all of this?
My philosophy is for optimization and prevention, to therefore avoid or minimize treatment and correction at a later age. This is why I work collaboratively with Dentists, Periodontists, Oral Surgeons, Orthodontists, MD's, Ear Nose Throat Specialists, Allergists, Pediatricians, Speech Pathologist's, Physical Therapists, Osteopath's, Craniosacral Therapists, Chiropractor's, Lactation Consultants, and other health care professionals to ensure there is optimal lip seal, nasal breathing with the tongue resting correctly.
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This really isn't about how I can accomplish this. I help you find all the pieces to your puzzle but you must put them together and find optimal health!
How much will the program cost?
I have developed several programs which include: Habit Elimination, Tongue Tie Release Readiness, Functional Breathing Training, Advanced Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) and a Complete OMT Program for more involved cases such as TMJ, sleep apnea or for individuals that need that more therapy and time to habituate. These programs run from 30 days, 8 weeks, 6 months to a year. After our assessments are complete, we will discuss the cost of your individualized program.
