Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) is a specialized, non-invasive treatment that focuses on correcting dysfunctional patterns and postures of the mouth, face, and throat. By addressing these issues, OMT aims to promote proper oral rest posture, swallowing, breathing, and speaking.

What Is OMT?

OMT involves a series of targeted exercises designed to retrain the muscles of the tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw. These exercises help establish functional patterns that support optimal oral and facial development. The therapy is particularly beneficial for children, as early intervention can lead to lasting improvements in oral health and function, but adults can also benefit from OMT.

We don’t use a cookie cutter program! We personalize a plan of care for each patient to ensure their specific needs are being addressed. Beginning with your concerns in mind, we address specific functional deficits and provide individualized support so each patient gets the help they need without the fluff.

Common Causes of OMDs

Several factors can contribute to the development of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs), including:

  • Oral Habits: Thumb sucking, pacifier use, sippy cup use, teeth clenching/grinding.

  • Structural Abnormalities: Tongue tie, narrow palate.

  • Genetic Predisposition: Inherited traits affecting oral and facial structures.

  • Neurological or Developmental Abnormalities: Conditions affecting muscle coordination and function.

  • Restricted Nasal Airway: Chronic stuffy nose, deviated septum.

  • Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids: Obstructing normal breathing patterns.

  • Allergies: Leading to mouth breathing and other issues.

  • Tethered Oral Tissue: when one of the oral frena (typically the lingual frenum) is too tight and causes related symptoms (TIP: It’s only a tongue tie if if affects function)

Signs and Symptoms of OMDs

Children (and adults) with OMDs may exhibit various signs and symptoms, such as:

  • Mouth breathing

  • Symptoms of sleep disordered breathing (snoring, persistent bed wetting, frequent waking, restless sleep, etc.)

  • Tongue thrust swallow

  • Picky or messy eating

  • Other feeding concerns such as avoidance of difficult to chew foods or foods that require grinding

  • Poor speech articulation

  • Dental issues such as crowding, underbite, overbite, overjet, or a high/narrow palate

  • Orthodontic relapse

  • TMJD

  • Facial, neck , or upper back pain

  • Frequent ear or sinus infections

  • Headaches

  • Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching)

  • Behavior and attention issues

  • Digestive issues

  • Pelvic floor issues (more common in adults)

Benefits of OMT

Implementing OMT can lead to numerous benefits, including:

  • Improved breathing patterns, especially during sleep, reducing snoring and enhancing sleep quality.

  • Correct oral rest posture, which serves as the foundation for speech sound production, adequate feeding skills, and dental/oral health.

  • Balanced function of the orofacial complex (imbalance & dysfunction are often the cause of facial pain & TMJD).

  • Enhanced speech clarity by addressing underlying muscle dysfunctions.

  • Improved oral function for feeding, which can help expand a person’s diet as well as efficient/effective feeding skills.

  • Support for orthodontic treatments by promoting proper muscle function and preventing relapse.

  • The elimination of oral habits such as thumb sucking or extended pacifier use.

Early intervention with OMT can establish a solid foundation for long-term oral health and overall well-being.

Getting Started with OMT

If you notice any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above in your child, it may be beneficial to consult with a trained myofunctional therapist. A comprehensive evaluation can determine if OMT is appropriate and develop a personalized treatment plan to address your child's specific needs. OMT can typically be offered around age 4, as exercises and concepts involved in OMT are more abstract.

Adults can also benefit from treatment! Let s know if you have TMJD, facial pain, or sleep disordered breathing. We would love to help improve your orofacial function for improved quality of life, as well as connect with other medical professionals to provide collaborative, root-cause treatment.