Myofunctional Therapy in Greensboro, NC

What Is Myofunctional Therapy?

Myofunctional therapy targets the muscles of the airway (tongue, lips, soft palate, cheeks, face, and neck) to treat orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). Myofunctional therapy is a form of physical therapy that uses simple, specialized exercises to target, strengthen and reeducate improper oral function on a neuro-muscular level. In other words, it changes the muscle memory of your face and mouth to achieve optimal, intended function. The goals of myofunctional therapy are to achieve proper oral resting posture of the mouth and lips, exclusive nasal breathing and correct any swallow dysfunction that may exist.

How Did I Develop These Dysfunctional Muscle Patterns?

Tongue tie-restricted tongue mobility

Prevents the tongue from performing all its many functions. Tongue ties can force the tongue to stay low in the mouth which leads to mouth breathing and sleep disorders. Tongue ties can impact proper swallow leading to GI issues.

Tongue thrust

Improper movement of the tongue during swallowing can put excessive strain on surrounding structures. Tongue thrust can lead to flaring of front teeth and open bite.

Extended pacifier use

Proper muscle function is not learned when pacifiers are in the mouth past the first birthday

Thumb sucking

The thumb displaces the proper rest placement of the tongue and lips

Allergies

Preventing nasal breathing

Enlarged tonsils/adenoids

Causing obstruction to the airway

What Are The Symptoms of Myofunctional Disorders?

Mouth breathing
Dry mouth during sleep
TMJ pain
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB)
Snoring
Upper airway resistance syndrome
Obstructive Sleep apnea
Clenching/grinding teeth
Swallowing air-leading to frequent bloating, gas, and other GI issues
Silent reflux or nighttime reflux
Chronic gingivitis or periodontal disease despite typical intervention

Have Questions About Myofunctional Therapy? Find Answers Here

What Are My Next Steps?

Schedule a comprehensive Airway Evaluation with one of our Orofacial Myofunctional Therapists (OMT)! Our Myofunctional Therapist will assess many aspects of your health, past and present, to look for potential areas where dysfunction could be a contributing factor to less than optimal health and function. Photos will be taken and we will conduct a few tests to look for breathing and swallow funcion. We will also evaluate for a tongue tie and give recommendations on whether a frenectomy (tongue tie revision) is needed or not. Dr. Jah will ultimately be the one to make the final diagnosis and treatment plan for the frenectomy.

Once the Evaluation is complete, your Myofunctional Therapist will develop a treatment plan. A typical treatment plan consists of meeting with your therapist for 12 sessions. These can be in-person or virtual using Zoom and usually scheduled every other week. Treatment can last 6-9 months or beyond depending on the patient’s needs. At each appointment, your Myofunctional Therapist will assess your progress and give new exercises for daily homework. The exercises given take around 5 minutes done twice daily and requires dedication and consistent effort.

At What Age Can I Begin Myofunctional Therapy?

Many people are unaware that myofunctional therapy can be started at any age. Seeking early help can effectively limit structural damage. Children as young as five can enjoy the benefits of myofunctional therapy.

Ready to book an appointment? Contact us online or call (336) 649-4453 to access our services.