Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders are atypical patterns of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth that begin at birth when development of the orofacial complex is not ideal. 

Problems with eating, chewing, and swallowing. Narrow palate, speech, low tongue resting posture, narrow airway, sleep apnea, mouth breathing, inflammation of tonsils and adenoids, malocclusion, ear infections, poor latching during breastfeeding, poor posture, jaw pain, and more. 

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy involves a program of therapeutic exercises to help retrain adaptive patterns of muscle function and to create and maintain a healthy orofacial environment. 

Treatment goals may include: Normalize tongue and lip resting postures. Establish nasal breathing patterns. Create a correct swallowing pattern.

Those who can benefit from therapy are the following, but not limited to: tongue tie/lip tie, mouth breathers, tongue thrust, messy eaters, sleeping disorders, orthodontic relapse, thumb/digit suckers, misaligned teeth, grinding/clenching of teeth, facial pain, speech problems, digestive concerns, posture concerns, body aches and pains, and more. 

Your frenum (also called frenulum) is a band of tissue that connects your cheeks, tongue or lips to other soft or hard tissue in the mouth. Some are more noticeable than others. Some are tighter than others.

A condition that restricts movement of the tongue, lip, or cheek. The condition is present at birth. A short, tight band of tissue tethers or connects the tongue's tip to the floor of the mouth in a tongue tie. Tight bands of tissue are also present in lip and buccal ties.

Physician, ENT, Dentist, Registered Dental Hygienist, Pediatricians, Speech and Language Pathologists, and those trained in myofunctional disorders.

At any age, but as early as birth.

Humans are obligate nose breathers upon birth. This means that we breathe through our nose throughout the day and night, and only open our mouths when we eat and speak. Mouth breathing is when our mouth is open, tongue is low, and air flows in and out of our body through our mouth.  

Lips become dry when our body becomes dehydrated and we begin to breathe through our mouths. If your lips are constantly dry, you may consider seeing your primary care physician to check for any vitamin deficiencies. 

Mouth breathing can be a sign there is blockage in the nasal cavity, low tongue resting posture, or an obstructed or narrow airway. 

Mouth breathing is damaging to the gingival tissue and can lead to inflammation in the tonsils and adenoids, chronic bad breath and tooth decay.

As a chronic mouth breather, facial development is disrupted and can result in an elongated face, malocclusion, orthodontic relapse.

Seek the professional advice of a myofunctional therapist to offer a comprehensive evaluation of airway and tongue position. Referrals will be made as the next step to a better you.

• Loud snoring

• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep 

• Pausing of breath during sleep for over 10 seconds

• Restless 

• Gasping for air during sleep

• Awakening with a dry mouth

• Morning headache

• Difficulty staying asleep

• Excessive daytime sleepiness 

• Difficulty paying attention while awake