Orofacial Fitness

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Myofunctional therapy is a program of specific exercises that target the facial muscles used to breathe, chew, and swallow. Its primary goals are to use behavior modification techniques to help eliminate many of the causes of chewing and swallowing abnormalities and inappropriate oral rest posture.

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Myofunctional therapy corrects improper orofacial movements of the tongue and facial muscles. It involves strengthening the tongue and orofacial muscles by teaching individuals how to engage the muscles in the appropriate position. Restoring the natural function of the orofacial structures can help one better enjoy eating, speaking, and breathing, and achieve optimal sleep outcomes.

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Many therapists may also provide motivational therapy to eliminate noxious oral habits such as prolonged pacifier, thumb or finger, cheek or lip biting, tongue sucking, and clenching/grinding of teeth. In addition to the variety of cosmetic benefits of myofunctional therapy, it is also an important adjunct to numerous orofacial surgeries, such as frenuloplasty and mandibular advancements.

Causes and Effects of Orofacial Disorders

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Most OMDs start with insufficient habitual nasal breathing or with oral breathing. Blocked nasal passages because of congestion, allergies, or large tonsil size can promote breathing through the mouth. The subsequent adaptation of the muscles and orofacial functions creates many OMDs. Also, oral breathing dries the oral mucosa of the mouth. This can contribute to dental caries and gingival and periodontal problems. Oral breathing has many other health implications as well.

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)?

Often abbreviated as OMDs, orofacial myofunctional disorders may interfere with the muscles and functions of the face and mouth used for eating, talking, and breathing. OMDs interfere with the normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth in growing children and teenagers. Adults may suffer from OMDs too.

OMDs may affect, directly and/or indirectly, breastfeeding, facial skeletal growth and development, chewing, swallowing, speech, occlusion, temporomandibular joint movement, oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.

Some signs of an OMD may include one or a combination of, but are not limited to, one of the following:

Mouth breathing or nasal obstruction, difficulty breathing through the nose;
Facial skeletal growth (maxillofacial development)
Overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems;
Oral hygiene and dental problems
Jaw Pain/Temporomandibular Joint Disorder [TMJD];
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Sleep-disordered breathing (including snoring and sleep apnea)
Inappropriate mouth/lips-open resting posture problem;
Inappropriate thrusting of the tongue in speaking and/or swallowing;
Thumb-, finger-, lip-, and tongue-sucking habits;
Difficulty closing the lips to swallow;
Neck and shoulder tension
Speech problems
Facial esthetics
And more….

To treat Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), myofunctional therapists must work with other allied professionals such as dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, Allergists, and Osteopaths to ensure the patient’s needs are addressed and handled appropriately to achieve optimal outcomes. Patient needs must be addressed from an interdisciplinary approach in order to be successful in treatment.

Proper diagnosis allows for targeted and effective therapy exercises for oral posture retraining to promote better health with goals to improve breathing, reduce pain, and enhance quality of life. Please refer to the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy for a more detailed explanation on the impact of maladaptive orofacial posturing on maxillofacial growth and development:

More about Nerissa Boggan

Supporting Community Health and Healing

Nerissa is a myofunctional therapist and sleep and breathing educator, and she has worked in the dental hygiene field for over 25 years. She is a presenter on sleep, healing, and recovery as a fundamental element of self-care practice at the Advance Peace National Violence Interrupter and Community Healing Bootcamp Academy by supporting improved health span and life span of emergency first responders, violence interrupters, and community mediators from around the country. These credible messengers are working to build healthier, safer, and more just communities by transforming the lives of individuals at the center of gun violence — healing communities.

These credible messengers are working to build healthier, safer, and more just communities by transforming the lives of individuals at the center of gun violence—healing communities.

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Strong and Balanced Orofacial Musculature is Essential for Overall Health

Strong and Balanced Orofacial Musculature is Essential for Overall Health

What is Myofunctional Therapy?

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Addressing Oral Habits and Behaviors

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Causes and Effects of Orofacial Disorders

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Supporting Surgical and Functional Outcomes

Goals of Myofunctional Therapy

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs)?

Memberships and Associations

More about Nerissa Boggan

Supporting Community Health and Healing