Yes, myofunctional therapy actually can change your looks. If you breathe through your mouth all of the time, this can alter your appearance: narrowing dental arches and lengthening the facial structure.
The exercises used in myofunctional therapy may be employed in children who are 6 years and older. They also may be helpful in adults.
A speech-language pathologist assesses the structures and the way the lip, cheeks, teeth, jaws and tongue move. This is done by watching the child speak and also watching how he or she swallows foods and liquids. Pictures are taken to record the child's dental structures.
Exercise 1: Push Up the Tongue - Place the tip of the tongue against the hard palate on the roof of the mouth, just behind the top teeth, and push upwards and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Exercise 2: Touch Nose - Stick out your tongue and try to touch the tip of your nose and hold for 10 seconds, then relax.
For success in this therapy, consistent exercise every day is necessary until the patient has corrected their improper muscle pattern. It also takes commitment by the patient, family – and time. Treatment usually consists of a regular program of exercises over a 6 – 12 month period, although treatment length may vary.
Generally, the tongue-thrust swallowing pattern may be handled in two ways:
- Correction by MyoFunctional Therapy or Tongue Therapy, which is an exercise technique that re-educates the tongue muscles.
- An appliance that is placed in the mouth by the dentist or orthodontist, which is generally not very successful.
Tongue thrust (also called reverse swallow or immature swallow) is the common name of an oral myofunctional disorder, a dysfunctional muscle pattern in which the tongue protrudes anteriorly or laterally during swallowing, during speech, and while the tongue is at rest.
There is no proven benefit to oral myofunctional therapy or frenuloplasty for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in adults as it is commonly practiced in the United States.
The IAOM is the only professional organization to certify clinicians in the field of Orofacial Myology. After an eligible professional (RDH, SLP, DDS/DMD. MD) takes an IAOM approved 28 hour Introductory Course, he/she is eligible to apply for certification.
The IAOM is the founding governing body in the Certification of Orofacial Myology. We are the oldest and largest organization that trains, educates and certifies in orofacial myofunctional therapy. The IAOM is the only professional organization to certify clinicians in the field of Orofacial Myology.
OMDs may be caused by several factors: Blocked nasal passages because of tonsil size or allergies. When the nasal passages are blocked, people may need to breathe through their mouth instead. Anything that causes the tongue to be misplaced at rest or makes it difficult to keep the lips together at rest.
