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 infections
- 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:
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory problems, ADHD
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Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children and Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - learning difficulties, ADHD, emotional/behavioral dysregulation
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Mouth breathing - dentofacial abnormalities, eating and digestive issues, anxiety, chronic respiratory issues, chronic bad breath, dental decay
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Clenching/Grinding (i.e.Bruisxm) - gum recession, dental and periodontic issues, headaches, neck and shoulder pain
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Atypical swallow - digestive issues, feeding difficulties, jaw pain
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Oral habits and/or prolonged bottle, pacifier, sippy cup use - abnormal dentofacial growth, malocclusion, atypical swallow, mouth breathing
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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.
