What are orofacial myofunctional disorders?

The muscles of the mouth and face are important for many facets of life: breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. They play an essential role in our growth and development and in our dental and airway health. We expect and need them to work correctly and optimally, but sometimes the muscles develop atypical patterns and other muscles will compensate. This can lead to problems over time. We call these problems orofacial myofunctional disorders and they can affect babies, children, adolescents and adults. 

What is oral myofunctional therapy?

Oral myofunctional therapy, also called orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT), is a therapeutic treatment program focused on correcting orofacial myofunctional disorders - atypical patterns of the mouth and face muscles - that can interfere with normal growth, development, and function. We use fun and engaging exercises to educate and establish nasal breathing, achieve jaw stability, strengthen muscles, and retrain correct swallow and speech patterns. We can also help with sucking habit elimination, issues with tongue ties, lip ties, tongue thrust, TMJ issues, sleep breathing disorders, and CPAP compliance. The ideal client is aged 4 years or older, as our clients need to be able to actively participate in therapy and follow directions. 

What about toddlers and babies? Are they candidates for myofunctional therapy?

Young children and babies who are not able to follow directions well or actively participate are still great candidates for therapy at Smart Mouth Therapy. Often it is very important for babies and toddlers to develop oral skills to benefit them for a lifetime. We use principles, tools, and practices from feeding therapy and oral placement therapy, as well as manual therapy to address fascial release. The goal is to help these children develop early oral skills, and feel safe and comfortable in their bodies.  Babies and toddlers are best served by SLPs or OTs who are licensed, trained, and experienced in oral motor/feeding therapy as well as myofunctional therapy.

What does therapy look like?

All clients will start with a new patient appointment where we will cover medical and birth history, current concerns, feeding skills, sleep habits, behavioral issues, and oral function assessment. Depending on age and concerns, we will also screen for nasal breathing and verbal speech. After the assessment, a summary of findings and recommendations will be provided.  Follow-up sessions are individualized and will be catered to specific needs. These sessions are structured to allow for education, Q&A, and therapy. They are scheduled to allow time to work on exercises and skills between sessions. Remember, adherence is important, as the magic happens at home. 

New patients appointments for older kids and adults can last up to 90 minutes. New patient appointments for babies and toddlers are typically 60 minutes.

Will I have to see other providers?

It depends, as everyone is different. At Smart Mouth Therapy we work with many area providers and can help you navigate the world of oral ties, feeding, sleep, and breathing. We work with doctors, body work professionals, OTs, PTs, dentists, orthodontists, ENTs, allergists, and sleep medicine teams to help you achieve your goals.

How can I learn more?

For a free consultation, or learn more about our services, email info@smartmouththerapy.com.