Orofacial myofunctional therapists help people use the muscles of their face and mouth to breathe, chew and swallow in a functionally correct and healthy way.
 
 

Disorders Treated:

• Speech Articulation Impairments—many are developmental in nature, yet others are caused by oral and facial muscle dysfunction and/or structural differences

• Tongue Thrusting—moving the tongue in an improper pattern, either forward or to one side or the other, than is customary during the acts of chewing and swallowing foods and liquids

• Improper Tongue Rest Posture—positioning the tongue in an incorrect place within the mouth at rest—the tongue tip should be resting on the alveolar ridge (bumps on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth) while the rest of the tongue is pressed up against the palate

• Open Mouth Posture—the lips are not together, the mouth hangs open, the lower lip may become flaccid, the upper lip may draw closer to the nose, the head may begin to project forward—usually the result of nasal airway obstruction caused by allergies, large tonsils/adenoids and can lead to malocclusion

• Other Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

It will often take a team to correct some of the orofacial myofunctional disorders. The pediatrician, ENT, allergist, orthodontist, dentist, sleep disorders specialist, etc. may be involved. However, Orofacial Myofunctional Treatment is key in this team effort to retrain the muscles to proper function and appearance.