What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is like physical therapy for the mouth and face muscles. Orofacial myofunctional therapy is an individualized program of static and dynamic strength and pattern retraining exercises of the tongue and orofacial muscles intended to correct maladaptive oral habits and help restore correct oral resting posture.
This therapy goes by several different names: orofacial myology, myofunctional therapy, and orofacial myofunctional therapy. This therapy is completed by therapists trained to treat disorders of the face, mouth and neck muscles. Believe it or not, the muscles all form an intricate network and are designed to function a certain way. However, the body is amazing at adapting when there is a problem, resulting in dysfunction of these muscle groups. This adaptation can result in lifelong consequences and an increase in symptoms over time.
Why Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Important?
It is important to learn how to correct the imbalances for the orofacial myofunctional disorders before there are long-term consequences, especially altering the development of the face, swallowing and breathing systems of children. If you walk with a limp, some other part of your body is going to suffer and start to have problems. If you use your back incorrectly year after year, you’re going to have problems somewhere else.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy works to bring awareness to the areas of concern and then helps teach the client how to properly use the muscles, implement new habits and how to retain those new patterns.
Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy focuses on the muscles of the mouth, face, and throat. By strengthening weak muscles, learning proper function and making behavior modifications, improvements can be made to breathing, speaking, chewing and swallowing.
In this episode of the Myo Minute, I answer the common question “What Is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy”.
That’s it for today, friend! Go make and impact!!
Do you want help with your Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy journey?
My friend, if you breathe with your mouth open, rest your tongue in the floor of your mouth, suspect a tongue tie, snore, have apnea or poor sleep, lots of digestion issues or think that your 47 food allergies are a thing, suffer from chronic pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, lack of energy and pizzazz in life, weight gain or TMJ issues…you and I need to meet and do an exam!
That’s the very best place to start. Don’t waste your time with any other assessments, this is where the rubber meets the road. I help you plan who we need on your team, when we need them and why. So start with that exam, schedule it wherever you’re watching this video or find your way to my website and we will get you started on the path to YOU. 2.0!!
If you know someone who needs this information, subscribe/ follow / share whatever it is that you do wherever you are watching this…because you might make an impact on someone else’s wellness journey!
Learn More About Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Here:
- The Ultimate Guide to Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
- TMJ Pain: Can Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy Help Me Find Relief?
Meet Carmen Woodland
I found this path of passion years ago as a dental hygienist. After a stint in graduate school to earn my M.B.A., I decided that I needed to pivot. My heart was no longer in scraping teeth, but making a much bigger impact on lives touched by myofunctional impairment.
My story is personal and close to home. My sweet granddaughter was passed back and forth amongst doctors and therapists for years trying to figure out her speech, breathing, sleep, chewing and swallowing issues. It wasn’t until I completed more training that I knew her problem was a significant tongue-tie. Bingo.
Fast forward to now. I’m a crusader. A warrior. A voice for those who can’t find theirs, or who don’t have one.
I left clinical hygiene practice to start Integrative Myofunctional Therapy. It has evolved from a way to make a living, into an obsession!
I see clients all over the world and provide innovative, virtual therapy in the remotest of places.
In addition, I also
- Teach other dental hygienists, speech therapists & dentists how to become myofunctional therapists through the Myofunctional Therapy Training Academy, the Myo Mastery Program, Ignition Implementation Lab, and Triumph Business Training For Myofunctional Professionals
- Coach dental offices on how to implement myofunctional screening into the daily practice
- Speak in various settings
I’m an airway provider for the Foundation of Airway Health, where I work diligently for the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of airway-related disorders.
And last but not least, I’m a proud member of several professional associations that afford me the opportunity to learn so that I can help you. My professional memberships include: