WHAT IS MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY?

Highly Effective Physical Therapy Exercises to Improve Breathing, Bite, and Orofacial Posture.

The interaction between orofacial structural growth and muscle activity starts early in development, and the physiologic functions of suction, mastication, swallowing and nasal breathing in infancy play an important role in stimulating subsequent growth.

The habits we develop in our youth inevitably translate to behaviors later in life. By training the muscles in the face to act in their optimal biological way, muscle memory can keep the teeth and jaw in alignment as we grow and develop. (In many cases eliminating the need for future orthodontics). 

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) affect the functions and muscles of the mouth and face. OMDs can cause a variety of effects either directly or indirectly. From  problems breastfeeding, stunted facial skeletal growth and development, disordered chewing, swallowing, speech impediments, malocclusion, temporomandibular joint movement/disorders, poor oral hygiene, stability of orthodontic treatment, facial esthetics, and more.Many people mouth-breathe more than they should. As a result, the muscles and the orofacial functions tend to adapt to a disordered breathing pattern, which in turn creates many OMDs.

Myofunctional therapy can help enable one to enjoy eating, speaking, breathing, and even sleeping more soundly. Not to mention that the Cosmetic benefits can bolster self-esteem.

Just as physical therapy helps to train our bodies back into optimal shape after an injury, Myofunctional therapy helps by training the soft tissues of the face, neck, and mouth to function at the height of their ability. Myofunctional therapy is also an important adjunct to numerous orofacial surgeries such as frenuloplasties, and mandibular advancements. Our goal is to cultivate an awareness of muscle use and develop a therapy program of regular exercises designed specifically to your needs.

OUR GOAL AS THERAPISTS

  • To better understand the importance of proper tongue position   (roof of the mouth)/proper oral rest posture.
    A low tongue position can contribute to improper muscle functioning and can lead to airway obstruction.
  • To better understand the importance of establishing lip seal.
  • To better understand the importance of continuous nasal breathing.
  • To clearly identify and illustrate the importance of pre/post operative Myofunctional therapy exercises in a clinical setting and as part of a successful tongue-tie (Frenuloplasty) procedure.
  • To help strengthen the tongue and orofacial muscles through myofunctional therapy exercises and pattern retraining to help resolve issues associated with sleep, breathing, posture, orthodontic relapse, cervical neck tension, and jaw pain, among others.

Therapeutic exercises will help the strength and range of motion for your jaw, cheeks, lip and tongue. People with trouble speaking clearly, swallowing problems, or muscle weakness of the mouth may benefit from these exercises.

NOT JUST FOR KIDS

Orofacial myofunctional therapy is also appropriate for adults. In many instances, a myofunctional disorder develops in response to late jaw growth, worsening of a malocclusion over time, or other reasons such as tooth loss. Therapy for adult patients is typically efficient. Adults of all ages are capable of achieving success in treatment.

Myofunctional therapy may be an attractive alternative treatment for sleep apnea. It is non-invasive, inexpensive, and has no major risks. For example, you may be able to avoid the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or even surgery. In addition, the therapy has been used in other conditions.

Myofunctional therapy may benefit those who suffer from a variety of ailments, including:

  • Headaches
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
  • Neck pain
  • Thumb sucking
  • Nail biting

MOUTH BREATHING

Mouth breathing can completely alter how your child looks which is the skeletal development of a child, and completely disrupts airway development which affects the amount of oxygen the body requires for proper function. We know that mouth breathing  affects the resting position of the facial and tongue muscles, often mouth breathers experience a wide variety of signs and symptoms from early development to later in life consequences. Sadly, failure to nasal breath affects your overall health. Mouth breathing affects the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide that are in the body. Our bodies rely on a specific amount of incoming oxygen and outgoing carbon dioxide to remain in a healthy state.

PROPER TONGUE POSITION

  • A low tongue rest position (or posture) is either a necessity or a habit.
  • A low tongue position can contribute to improper muscle functioning and can lead to airway obstruction.
  • Any time the nasal breathing is impaired, temporarily or chronically, the jaw drops and the tongue positions itself low and forward to open up the upper airways.
  • A low tongue rest posture habit can be lasting even if the causative factors are corrected ie. Tongue tie has been released or nasal breathing has been established.  Myofunctional therapy can help correct the tongue resting position – creating better habits for better health.
  • Lack of nasal breathing or sleep disordered breathing may lead to the tongue moving or resting forward and pushing against the teeth (static). During the swallow, instead of pushing up to the palate the tongue moves forward or laterally, called anterior, bi-lateral, unilateral or bi-maxillary tongue thrust (dynamic).
  • In children, establishing this good resting tongue posture is critical for good facial growth and airway development.

SIGNS OF IMPROPER REST ORAL POSTURE

  • Lips apart at rest
  • Lip strain with flattening or wrinkling of chin when lips are closed
  • Flaccid, rolled-out upper lip
  • Crusty lips
  • Accentuated “cupid’s bow” appearance of upper lip
  • Flattened cheeks
  • One or both jaws recessed from ideal position
  • Nose-lip angle greater than 110 degrees
META ANALYSIS RESEARCH

Current literature demonstrates that myofunctional therapy decreases apnea-hypopnea index by approximately 50% in adults and 62% in children. Lowest oxygen saturations, snoring, and sleepiness outcomes improve in adults.

FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF TONGUE MOBILITY

Myofunctional therapy, functional evaluation of tongue mobility as related to sleep disorders.

POOR ORAL HABITS

POOR ORAL HABITS RESTRICTING PROPER GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

BOTTLE FEEDING TONGUE THRUSTING MOUTH BREATHING PICKY/MESSY EATING
DROOLING POOR POSTURE LEANING ON CHIN THUMB SUCKING
NAIL BITING LIP BITING HAIR CHEWING PENCIL CHEWING
CHOKING/GAGGING ABNORMAL POSTURE GRINDING/CLENCHING PACIFIER

The Use of Functional Appliances

Functional Appliances like the Myobrace is used in conjunction with myofunctional therapy in order to aid in elimination of bad habits and help restore proper nasal breathing through strengthening of the muscles of the airway including the lips, the cheeks and the tongue. The results of this therapy is proper function which helps grow and develop the jaws, the face and most importantly the AIRWAY!

Dr. Robinson's son Bryce earns his iPad time by wearing his Myobrace appliance
Myobrace in use.
Picture of Myobrace close-up

Experience the Myobrace Difference

Modern research shows that crooked teeth and poor jaw development are not caused by hereditary factors.

Myobrace® focuses on treating the underlying causes, unlocking natural growth and development.

Visit Myobrace website

Before & After Myobrace

More Resources

Visit Dr. Robinson’s mentor, Dr. Zaghi’s website to access more educational resources as well as sample myofunctional exercises by clicking on the following link:

The content found on this page is in part courtesy of Dr Robinson’s mentor Dr Saroush Zaghi.  Find more at his website, The Breathe Institute.