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Myofunctional Therapy

Treatment of jaw clenching, swallowing problems, TMJ, bruxing, other orofacial muscular disorders

Symptoms include aeorphagia (swallowing of air), difficulty swallowing pills or food, residual effects of thumb-sucking, chronic mouth-breathing, nasal stuffiness, muscle strain, chronic headaches, muscle spasms, jaw pain

Form & Function. In the human body, function shapes form. When you swallow, there is a strong contraction of the facial muscles and thrust of the tongue. When a person swallows properly, the tip of the tongue presses firmly against the roof of the mouth or hard palate, located slightly behind the front teeth. The tongue harmoniously functions with other facial muscles involved in swallowing, while the hard palate absorbs force created by the tongue. Similarly, When the tongue is properly seated and not in use, it will rest against the palate (the roof of the mouth) at all times.

People suffering from myofunctional disharmony, however, have a tongue that rests against the teeth, placing a light constant pressure against the teeth, which can be caused by a variety of reasons (bad habits from childhood such as mouth breathing, allergies or nasal congestion causing the tongue to lie low in the mouth due to breathing obstruction, etc). Over time, this pressure will cause the teeth to move outward, affecting the position of surrounding teeth, lips and jaw placement.

Myofunctional therapy, or oral facial muscle therapy, uses measurement and exercise to correct a tongue thrust (also known as a deviated swallow). To swallow properly, muscles and nerves in the tongue, cheeks and throat must work together in harmony! Therapy will re-educate and re-pattern the facial muscles through a series of muscle therapy exercises.

Although nearly all children experience tongue thrusting, it is usually self-corrected at age six, and some continue tongue thrusting into adulthood. Because we swallow up to 2,000 times a day, pressure exerted on the teeth from a protruding tongue at each swallow can create force on the teeth, leading to misaligned dentition or a lisp-orientated speech impediment or reversed orthodontic work. Myofunctional therapy habituates good habits by replacing them with the patient’s existing bad habits, reprogramming the cellular memory of the facial muscles (over the course of about a year). 

Contact us today for an initial consultation
and for more information about myofunctional therapy

310.274.4200.