Myofunctional Therapy & Early Intervention
BREATHE. EAT. SPEAK.
Evidence-based orofacial myofunctional therapy for children and adults — addressing the root causes of mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, chewing & swallowing difficulties, and related disorders.
Do any of these sounds familiar? Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) are more common than most people realize — and often go undiagnosed for years.
The symptoms below can appear in isolation or together. If several resonate with you or your child, an orofacial myofunctional evaluation may help identify the underlying cause.
Sleep & breathing
Mouth breathing or open-mouth resting posture
Snoring or sleep apnea
Restless sleep, night sweats, or feeling unrested
Chronic nasal congestion
In children: bedwetting, night terrors, difficulty focusing
Dental & jaw
Tongue tie or lip tie
Crowded teeth or malocclusion
Orthodontic relapse after braces
TMJ pain, clicking, or jaw tension
Bruxism (clenching or grinding)
Eating & swallowing
Difficulty swallowing food, liquids, or pills
Texture aversions or picky eating
Slow or messy eating
Chronic acid reflux or digestive issues
In infants: poor latch, slow weight gain, excessive reflux
Speech & oral habits
Articulation errors or unclear speech
Thumb sucking, nail biting, or chewing on clothing or objects
Prolonged pacifier, bottle, or sippy cup use
Excessive drooling
Difficulty transitioning to solid foods
Head, neck & pain
Frequent headaches or migraines
Chronic neck and shoulder tension
Recurring ear, nose, or throat infection
Hypersensitive gag reflex
Facial asymmetry
What are the potential impacts of OMDs? There is a growing body of research looking into the impact of untreated OMDs on dental, physical, and mental health.
Below are some examples of how an untreated myofunctional disorder can develop into a variety of health issues:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory problems, ADHD
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children and Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - learning difficulties, ADHD, emotional/behavioral dysregulation
Mouth breathing - dentofacial abnormalities, eating and digestive issues, anxiety, chronic respiratory issues, chronic bad breath, dental decay
Clenching/Grinding (i.e.Bruisxm) - gum recession, dental and periodontic issues, headaches, neck and shoulder pain
Atypical swallow - digestive issues, feeding difficulties, jaw pain
Oral habits and/or prolonged bottle, pacifier, sippy cup use - abnormal dentofacial growth, malocclusion, atypical swallow, mouth breathing
Articulation disorders - communication difficulties, potentially negative impacts on self-esteem
How can Myofunctional Therapy help?
Myofunctional Therapy treatment targets:
Healthy development of the face including upper and lower jaw and upper airway in children
Proper function and alignment of the muscles of the head and neck for breathing, chewing, swallowing
Nasal breathing
Reduction in the severity of sleep disordered breathing in children and sleep apnea in adults
Stabilization following orthodontic treatment
Significantly improved outcomes following lip and/or tongue-tie release
Ability to latch for breastfeeding
Improved digestive health
More resilient immune system as a result of nasal breathing
Correction of articulation disorders
Elimination of oral habits including thumb sucking, nail biting, pacifier, and bottle use
Facial symmetry
The Process
Please check out the SERVICES & FAQ pages for more information
Consultation
Assessment
Treatment Plan
BREATHE. EAT. SPEAK.
In thermodynamics, the Triple Point of a substance is the temperature and pressure at which the three phases (solid, liquid, and gas) of that substance coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium.
