Myofunctional Therapy with guest Rebecca Rose

What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

In the simplest of terms myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for the mouth and face!
More technically it is neuromuscular re-education for the muscles of the orofacial respiratory complex which is accomplished through specialized exercises and behavioral modifications.
Why is it important?
The mouth is the beginning of the airway! Without optimal development and function of the face and mouth we see poorly developed or misshapen dental arches and crooked teeth causing impairment of the upper respiratory system. This can lead to poor quality sleep or sleep related breathing disorders in
children and adults. Which may manifest as snoring, parasomnia; like sleep talking / walking, bedwetting beyond a reasonable age, clenching or grinding of teeth; and symptoms that mimic behavioral disorders like ADHD. Sleep related breathing disorders present an increased lifetime risk for dementia, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

4 Primary Goals of Myofunctional Therapy
1. Nasal Breathing
2. Proper oral rest posture
a. Tongue on the palate
b. Lips sealed
c. Teeth slightly apart
3. Elimination of maladaptive muscle patterns
4. Establish functional chew and swallow patterns

Watch a video to see what these exercises look like 

How do patients benefit from myofunctional therapy?
Proper oral rest posture promotes optimal growth and development of the face and mouth by providing counter pressure to the external forces of the facial muscles stabilizing the dental arches and stimulating optimal growth of the face allowing for ideal tooth eruption and functional bite. This translates to a wide and functional upper airway and promotes healthy nasal breathing increasing a persons ability to enjoy the restorative sleep that our bodies need, experience better energy throughout the day, but also improve overall health and longevity!

- Written by Rebecca Rose https://www.breathrestored.com/