MyoEssentials
Myofunctional Therapy: a Healthy Smile & Healthy Life
What is Myofunctional Therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a specialized treatment that focuses on training and strengthening the muscles of the orofacial structure: the tongue, the lips, the cheeks and the soft palate to ensure proper function and balance. Through a series of exercises and techniques, this therapy helps to correct habits like mouth breathing and open mouth posture, improper swallowing patterns and resting tongue position. It aims to restore the natural muscle balance needed for optimal oral and facial development.
Myofunctional therapy can help with a variety of conditions including
Sleep Disorders: obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, sleep walking/talking, insomnia and nightmares, clenching and grinding teeth
Tongue Tie
Mouth Breathing: nasal congestion, dry mouth, enlarged tonsils
Speech Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction & Headaches Behaviour Disorders: ADHD, anxiety, depression
Orthodontic Issues: open bite, misaligned teeth
The benefits of myofunctional therapy go beyond just improving the appearance of your smile. By retraining oral muscles, it can improve breathing patterns, reduce the risk of sleep disorders, support better digestion (since proper swallowing helps food to be processed more efficiently), and even relieve facial pain related to TMJ. Additionally, it can help create a more balanced facial structure, which may promote clearer speech and a healthier, more comfortable bite. Overall, myofunctional therapy contributes to better oral health and can enhance your overall well-being, promoting a healthier lifestyle
Optimal Tongue Function
Tongue posture at rest determines how the jaws grow. The tongue also protects the airway. Retraining the tongue to function correctly is essential for health
Breathing and Sleep
Nasal breathing is essential for quality sleep. Myofunctional therapy has been shown to increase that deep restorative sleep, allowing your brain and body to feel rejuvenated and ready to start the day
Chewing and Swallowing
Our therapy programs focus on improving chewing and swallowing function, enhancing oral motor skills essential to proper jaw growth and TMJ function