What Is Myofunctional Therapy and Why Might You Need It?

A dentist in St. George, Utah, area, like Dr. Bryce Eagar at Gateway Oral Health Center, may recommend myofunctional therapy to correct various oral habits. There are factors that you likely have never considered that can negatively impact your oral health. Inadequate chewing, improper tongue positioning, and abnormal swallowing patterns can all negatively impact your oral health. This is even more of a concern in children who are constantly growing and developing.

Many adults either don’t realize they have these abnormal habits or do not realize the harmful effects of these habits. For adults who have, over many years, developed poor oral habits, myofunctional therapy can help.

Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy is for all ages and was developed to address orofacial myofunctional disorders in the mouth, neck, and facial area. It is a form of physical therapy consisting of specific exercises to improve misaligned teeth and overbites. Myofunctional therapy has even been found to aid digestion, improve posture, help with sleep apnea and snoring, and eliminate headaches and jaw pain.

The Goals of Myofunctional Therapy

Myofunctional therapy is a combination of physical and breathing exercises aimed at strengthening your facial muscles. This therapy aims to eliminate speech, mouth, and posture concerns. Combining physical and breathing exercises can produce amazing achievements, including a better facial profile, improved speech patterns, and corrected chewing and swallowing.

Myofunctional therapy will train your mouth to rest naturally. Your mouth is at rest when you are not eating, swallowing, or talking. When at rest, your tongue should naturally rest with an upward bend at the tip, which lightly rests on the roof of your mouth while your lips are sealed, and teeth are not touching. When these three conditions are met, your mouth is at rest correctly. However, poor oral habits will train your mouth to rest unnaturally. This can lead to discomfort and, over time, oral health problems.

Do You Need Myofunctional Therapy?

It is possible that you had never heard of myofunctional therapy before your dentist was the first one to tell you that you needed it. This makes sense because it is their job to look out for issues that could benefit from this therapy. Myofunctional therapy is common among children with speech impediments because it can improve both facial and mouth movement. It helps prevent the development of overbites or crooked teeth.

If your dentist notices irregularities in how you chew or swallow, these are some telltale signs that you could benefit from myofunctional therapy. The position of your tongue at rest may also be a symptom. If you rest your tongue along the bottom of your mouth while at rest, you may benefit from therapy. When swallowing, your tongue should hit the roof of your mouth but not the sides of the teeth.

If you have further questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bryce Eagar at Gateway Oral Health Center in St. George, UT, please call our office today at (435) 656-0255.